Chromebooks overtake Android tablets and Macs in US business sales
Chrome OS is at last gaining some momentum — among US businesses and schools, anyway. The NPD Group reports that Chromebooks represented 9.6 percent of all computing devices sold through American commercial channels in 2013, or enough to surpass the market share of Android tablets, Windows tablets and MacBooks. Google’s rise put the squeeze on traditional computers, which dropped from 77.8 percent of the commercial space to 63.7 percent this year. NPD researchers don’t believe that the PC is going away, but they note that the most successful companies diversified their gadget lineups. Samsung’s combo of Android and Chromebooks helped it jump to 10 percent share of commercial sales in 2013, while PC-focused builders like HP took a bruising; it’s clear that one-trick ponies won’t thrive in the workplace for much longer.
Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Mobile, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google
Via: Electronista
Source: NPD Group
Samsung’s new chip could put 4GB of memory in your next smartphone
Think the 3GB of RAM in the Galaxy Note 3 was a lot? Samsung was only getting started. The company has just unveiled the first 8-gigabit (1GB) low-power DDR4 memory chip, which could lead to 4GB of RAM in a multi-layered, mobile-sized package. Moving to the higher-bandwidth (3.1Gbps) DDR standard should also provide a hefty 50 percent speed boost over existing DDR3-based chips, even though the new silicon uses 40 percent less power than its ancestors. Samsung is only promising mass production of the new RAM sometime in 2014, but it’s already clear about the target audience. The technology will go into laptops, smartphones and tablets with Ultra HD displays, where additional memory will be crucial for powering all those extra pixels.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Storage, Mobile, Samsung
Source: Samsung Tomorrow Global
Tegra Note platform receives OTA to Android 4.3, enhancements and bug fixes
If you own a Tegra Note 7 device, you should be seeing an update soon – if you haven’t already.
NVIDIA announced earlier this week that it was releasing an OTA update that brings new features and capabilities to all devices on the Note platform, including devices from EVGA, ADVENT, Gigabyte, Shenzhen Homecare Technology, ZOTAC and XOLO.
The OTA updates the device to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (sorry no KitKat yet), brings an enhanced the Tegra NOTE stylus experience with support for left-handed users and improvements in overall response, a DirectStylus help option under the device setting’s menu, a stylus removal and insert notification on the notification bar and the ability to capture the notification bar with full-screen capture.
Other features in the update include an always-on high-dynamic range (AOHDR) capability for the camera, which “utilizes Tegra 4’s processing power and Chimera computational photography architecture,” video stabilization, tuning and optimizations to improve camera performance under certain lighting conditions, the ability to transfer app and data files from internal memory to an external microSD card, and some security and bug fixes.
via NVIDIA
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Grippity returns as a transparent Android tablet with two-sided touch (video)
When we last saw Grippity, it wasn’t much more than a pretty media center keyboard. Well, it just grew up — its creators have revived the concept as a full-fledged, crowdfunded Android tablet. The new design still centers on a transparent, dual-sided touch surface, but there’s now more to do than type. The PS Vita-style back control lets users tap interface elements without obscuring the screen, and it opens the door to more complex multi-touch gestures. The infrared remote control and thumbpads have also returned from Grippity’s previous incarnation. If you’re intrigued, you can pledge $235 ($159 for a few early birds) to Grippity’s Kickstarter campaign to reserve a tablet for yourself; provided the team reaches its funding goal, you should have the device in your hands by October.
Filed under: Tablets
Source: Kickstarter
HP’s new tablets may be its way back into the smartphone world
HP has long vowed that it would revive its smartphone efforts, and it may be near that comeback — just not with the fanfare that some were hoping for. The Information claims that the company is weeks away from releasing a slew of phone-capable 6- and 7-inch Android tablets that would target developing markets, like China and India. They wouldn’t cost more than $250 off-contract, and they would reportedly be recycled designs from manufacturers like Pegatron and Quanta. While HP isn’t commenting on the rumor, it’s safe to say that major smartphone makers wouldn’t be losing sleep over the potential launch. The tipsters suggest that HP would instead be testing the waters — it would enter fast-growing mobile markets while it works on original hardware, corporate apps and carrier deals that would be necessary in more established areas.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, HP
Sony starts rolling out Android 4.3 to the Xperia Z, ZL, ZR and Tablet Z
Sony started delivering Android 4.3 updates to the shiny new Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra last week, and today it’s rolling out those improvements to (slightly) older devices. The Xperia Z, ZL, ZR and Tablet Z are all getting both Google’s not-quite-newest OS as well as a host of improved Sony apps, including Smart Social Camera and Walkman software. Xperia Tablet Z owners may appreciate the update most of all — they can implement restricted profiles that give users private settings and storage. Sony hasn’t said how long the upgrade will take, but don’t be surprised if your Xperia gets a gift of its own this holiday.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Sony
Via: Android and Me
Source: Sony Mobile Blog
Microsoft pulls Surface Pro 2 update after reports of battery and installation problems
We hope you weren’t quick to leap on the Surface Pro 2 update that popped up last week; if you were, you may be regretting it for a while. The company has pulled the upgrade following reports of both failed installations and battery problems, including a reduced capacity and incomplete charges. A fixed release is coming “after the holidays,” but there’s no word of an easy way to roll back. Short of resetting the system or a convenient restore point, you may have to live with a buggy tablet for the next few weeks.
Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft
Via: The Verge
Source: Microsoft Community
ASUS VivoTab Note 8 leak hints at a cheap, pen-toting Windows 8.1 tablet
Dell’s Venue 8 Pro may soon get some fresh competition. Mobile Geeks has discovered some imagery (albeit of the heavily pixellated variety) and full specs for ASUS’ VivoTab Note 8, an entry-level Windows 8.1 slate with pen input and a worryingly Samsung-esque name. It looks like the VivoTab should closely match Dell’s hardware, with an 8-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS display, a 1.33GHz Bay Trail-based Atom chip, 2GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of expandable flash storage. ASUS may also reuse a few parts from the MeMo Pad HD 7, including the 5-megapixel rear camera, 1.2-megapixel front camera and a 3,950mAh battery. Take the launch details with a grain of salt, however. The image leak has the VivoTab Note 8 arriving during the holidays for $299, but time is running out and a release may not happen until the new year.
Source: Mobile Geeks (translated), SlideShare
Flipboard launches direct sharing on iOS, makes magazines from your friends’ suggestions
If you’ve ever stumbled across a Flipboard article that you just had to share with the world, you’ll want to grab the iOS app’s latest update. The new version lets you share articles directly from the app, delivering notifications to friends if they’re already Flipboard readers. All shared articles now show up in a central area, and you can turn this list into a magazine if your friends have impeccable taste. Flipboard hasn’t said when Android and Windows users will get to spread the literary wealth, but we’d expect a corresponding app upgrade before long.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Mobile
Via: Inside Flipboard
Source: App Store
Samsung to introduce 4 tablets in early 2014, report says
Samsung is rumored to release 4 new tablets… just in Q1!
When you release as many devices as Samsung in any given year, there are bound to be a slew of rumors that seem like they never stop. According to SAMMOBILE, Samsung could debut at least 4 different tablets at the beginning of 2014.
A lot of the time, a big percentage of devices released by Samsung never make it to the United States, so it might not seem like its raining tablets like we’d hope. However, it should come to no surprise that we are getting our fare share of variety from the tech giant. It is rumored that the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite could be introduced, making it the cheapest Samsung tablet yet. Another rumored variant is a 12.2-inch Galaxy Note, and a 13.3-inch tablet as well.
All of these rumors would be great to see, especially because Q1 isn’t that far away!
Source: SAMMOBILE
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