Lenovo exec says Windows RT doesn't need to exist

There has been a fair bit of criticism for Windows RT since its release. The tech community never liked the limitations, consumers didn't see the value, and there's a possibility that the platform's failure was a key part of Steve Ballmer being pushed out as Microsoft's CEO. Now, a Lenovo exec is saying that there is no reason for Windows RT to exist at all.

The comment came from Lenovo's Australian marketing chief Nick Reynolds during a question and answer session following Lenovo's press conference at IFA in Berlin. Reynolds explained that the new Haswell chips from Intel have removed the need for consumers to choose between battery life and performance; and so, if users can get a full day of use from Windows 8, there's no reason for RT to be around. 

Microsoft might argue that RT hits that lower price range that full Windows 8 tablets and hybrids can't reach, but given the $900 million in unsold Surface inventory that the company had to write off, we don't expect that argument to be all that long. Not surprisingly, Lenovo announced a few refreshes to its Windows 8 lineup, including a new Yoga convertible, but no Windows RT devices.

source: Engadget

Microsoft Surface 2 will have a new Power Cover with a built-in battery

There are new Microsoft Surface tablets on the horizon. We've seen Microsoft drop the price on last year's models, as well as dropping the price of the Touch Cover. But, new word has it that the next generation of Surface tablets will have another cover to go along with the Touch and Type Covers. This time, there will be a Power Cover, which as you could guess will have a built-in battery.

The Power Cover will obviously be compatible with the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2, as well as the original Microsoft Surface Pro. The only device that will be left out is the original Microsoft Surface. It seems that one of the improvements to the Surface Pro was a new connector which would allow for covers with battery packs, so the original RT Surface tablet won't be able to use the new accessory. 

According to the news, the Power Cover will have the same style keyboard as the current Type Cover, meaning it will be a proper keyboard, and not just the rubber nubs of the Touch Cover. The Power Cover will add a fair bit of heft though at .38 inches (9.75 mm) and 1.1 pounds (520 grams), which is quite about double the size of the Type Cover. 

No word yet on how much battery life it will add to the tablets, nor what the price will be. As far as availability, the Power Cover will come along when the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 do. 

source: Paul Thurrott

Conflicting specs say Microsoft Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 will have Intel inside

Earlier on Wednesday, we told you about a Microsoft Surface 2, the sequel to the Microsoft Surface RT, that went through the GFX benchmark revealing a Tegra 4 under the hood. Now, a conflicting story has been revealed as specs for both the Surface 2 and the  Microsoft Surface Pro 2 have leaked. According to the latest buzz, both slates will be released in the middle of October.

The Microsoft Surface 2 (yes, the new rumors also have Microsoft dropping the RT from the name) will be powered by Intel's next generation Core i5 Haswell processor. A new kickstand will have two positions instead of the one locked position in the OG model. 8GB of RAM will be on the tablet.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 2 will come to market with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. A Haswell based Core i5 processor from Intel is driving this slate which should lead to longer battery life of 7 hours compared to the 5 hours reached with the original model. Looks-wise, you won't notice any outwardly changes from the original Microsoft Surface Pro.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 2 should launch on October 18th, priced at $799. Unfortunately, we don't have any pricing info for the Surface 2.
 
source: WinSuperSite, Neowin, ZDNet 

ASUS Transformer Book Trio is a dual-boot Android/Windows 8 ultraportable hybrid

ASUS has been on a bit of a spree today with re-announcing devices that it has already shown off before. The newest in that line is the ASUS Transformer Book Trio, which is essentially a mashup of the Transformer Pad Android tablet and the Transformer Book Windows 8 tablet convertible. Of course, the best way to mashup those devices is to make a dual-boot Android/Windows 8 device, which is what this is.

And, when we say the Trio is a mashup of the Transformer Book and the Transformer Pad, we mean it. The Trio tablet features an 11.6-inch 1080p display, and is powered by an Intel Atom Z2760 1.6GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. You'll get the choice of either 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of storage. The tablet side of course has Android 4.2.2 on board. 

The keyboard dock is where you'll find the power for the Windows 8 side of things. For that, you'll get a choice of processor up to an Intel Core i7 Haswell chip, 4GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. ASUS is saying you'll get up to 13 hours of battery running Android (with the keyboard dock), but just 5 hours running Windows 8, despite the Haswell chipset. 

One interesting thing is that the keyboard dock can be hooked up to an external display and used independently of the tablet display. Although, it sounds like your only option with the tablet will be Android, and you won't be able to use the display as a Windows tablet. 

Again, no word on pricing or availability.

HP announces Android and Windows transforming tablet/laptops

There were rumors a couple weeks ago that HP was working on a 10-inch Android tablet, but it looks like that wasn't quite right. In fact, HP was working on a transforming tablet/laptop hybrid; well, two hybrids, one that runs Android and one that runs Windows 8. HP has officially announced both devices, which are scheduled to hit the market in August.

The Android transformer is the HP SlateBook X2, and the Windows 8 transformer is the HP Split X2. Both will be sold as a bundle, with the keyboard as a part of the deal, not an optional addition, and both will allow the screen to detach to become a standard tablet. But, that's where the similarities end.

The Android SlateBook X2 will retail for $479.99, and will be a high-end device. The SlareBook will feature a 10.2" 1920 by 1200 resolution IPS display at 400 nits, powered by a Tegra 4, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and Android 4.2.2. The tablet will have an expandable microSD card slot, and the keyboard dock will add an SD card slot, two USB ports, an HDMI port, and of course an extra battery. Unfortunately, even with the keyboard dock, battery life is said to be just 8 hours, and a sad 4 hours for the tablet alone. 

The HP Split X2 is the Windows 8 model, and is more on the low-end of the spectrum, although it will cost $799.99. The Split X2 will feature a 13.3" display with a 1366 by 768 resolution, a 7W Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 500GB of storage. The Split is said to be a bit bulky at 4.85 pounds, and HP claims it will offer the same or better battery life as compared to other Intel ultrabooks. No word on battery life for the tablet side of the Split X2 alone. 

Microsoft confirms Blue will be Windows 8.1, and be released for free through the Windows Store

It wasn't until last week that Microsoft finally confirmed that Windows Blue was real and was on its way. Now, Microsoft has decided to make official another piece of information that we already knew: Windows Blue will be called Windows 8.1. But, the most important piece of information is one that is completely new, and that is the update will be completely free and be released through the Windows Store.

That last bit may seem like it should have been a no-brainer. Microsoft has never charged for an incremental upgrade before, but the difference is that Microsoft usually doesn't do "dot upgrades". Usually, there are simply a series of "service packs" for each Windows release, but things are different with Windows 8. 

There is still no info on when the update will be made available, but Microsoft has said that it will release a public preview of the update on June 26th, which is the first day of Microsoft's Build 2013 developers conference. The assumption is that 8.1 will be released in time for the holidays, so that Microsoft can finally get into the booming 7-8 inch tablet market. 

When speaking on Windows 8.1, it was also mentioned that the Windows Store has hit 70,000 apps, which is a respectable number given that we're only about 7 or 8 months into the Windows Store's life. 

source: The Next Web

Microsoft Surface RT and Microsoft Surface Pro each get their monthly update

Every month, Microsoft sends out cumulative updates for the Microsoft Surface RT and Microsoft Surface Pro. This means that each month, the update includes the latest changes in addition to all of the previous changes that you might have missed. This month's Microsoft Surface RT update takes care of a problem that had some Surface RT owners straining to hear sounds coming from the speaker. 

The Microsoft Surface RT tablet

The Microsoft Surface RT update, which comes OTA, not only enhances the volume on the speaker, but also improves the stability of the system. Another part of the update allows the Trackpad Settings driver for the Surface TypeCover to interact with the Trackpad Settings app for Japanese customers.

The monthly update for the Microsoft Surface Pro allows the tablet to support the PXE boot feature which is available only when using the Surface Pro Ethernet Adapter. This is used by IT administrators to install a copy of Windows across a network. Similar to the Surface RT update, the Surface Pro update allows the Trackpad Settings driver for the Surface TypeCover to interact with the Trackpad Settings app for Japanese customers. And additionally, the firmware update will also improve Wi-Fi connectivity and stability.

While the update is also coming OTA, you can try to pull out the update manually by clicking on Settings>Change PC Settings> Windows Update> Check for updates now.

source: Surface (RT), (Pro)

Android, Windows and Linux coexist peacefully on this 11.6-inch tablet

Now that's the kind of device we don't get to hear about every day. At a glance, this contraption may seem like a typical hybrid device – a tablet that transforms into a laptop when paired with a docking station. However, the Ekoore Python S3 is different for three operating systems can coexist independently on it, namely Windows, Ubuntu, and Android.

Specs-wise, the screen on the tablet measures 11.6 inches in diagonal and has a mediocre resolution of 1366 by 768 pixels. What isn't impressive either is the processor inside the device - a dual-core Intel Celeron 847, which should run at about 1.1GHz. The basic model ships with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, but these can be expanded to as much as 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The tablet weighs a whopping 980 grams and is 11 millimeters thick. 

While the device's built-in battery will last through 7 hours of use, an extra 5 hours can be squeezed out of the dock's internal battery. The keyboard dock is optional, however, and costs an extra 140 euro. A basic Ekoore Python S3 configuration retails for 599 euro ($780), but if you want to have it loaded with 3G, GPS, extra RAM and storage, get mentally prepared to spend a four-digit amount of cash on it. Still, if you need a triple-booting tablet with a keyboard dock, that's one of the few devices (if not the only) on the market matching that description.

Thanks for the tip!

Android 5.0 expected to have optimizations for laptops, Samsung planning to jump the gun

Back when Android first made its way onto tablets, the OS wasn't optimized for the form factor, but companies like Samsung charged ahead anyway. The early Android tablets were filled with compromises and apps that just weren't ready for the larger screens. Well, it sounds like Samsung is about to jump the gun again and release an Android-powered laptop before the release of Android 5.0, which is expected to bring optimizations for laptops.

We've heard before that there are Android-powered touchscreen laptops that are on the way, and expected to start at around $200. We've played around with Android 4.2 on a laptop, and the platform definitely needs work before it can transition to laptops full time. Android 5.0 is said to have been delayed, which has also led to the announcement of Android laptops being bumped from the Google I/O schedule this year. 

However, KGI Securities analyst Mingchi Kuo believes that Samsung and other manufacturers are planning to go ahead with release plans anyway, and start putting Android laptops on the market in the next 3-4 months. Apparently, manufacturers either don't care about, or don't remember the damage to Android's reputation when it was put on tablets before the platform was ready. At least this time, Android 5.0 is likely coming by October or November; so, depending on how fast manufacturers can push updates, the time between hardware release and mature software shouldn't be too long.

source: 9to5Google 

Analysts don't see a future for Windows RT

Ever since the first word about Windows RT, no one was quite sure what to make of it. The price point for the tablets wasn't terrible, but there didn't seem to be much as far as positives for the platform. RT isn't as fully realized a platform as Windows Phone, and it doesn't have the legacy support that you would find in Windows 8. So, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that analysts don't expect RT to last too long.

According to IDC’s Bob O’Donnell, “Windows RT breaks the core value proposition of Windows,” which is based on legacy support for apps. Wes Miller of Directions on Microsoft said that he doesn’t “see a long-term viability for Windows RT as a value-driven strategy” because the app ecosystem isn't strong enough to attract customers. And, Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said that she doesn't expect Windows RT to ever be a real competitor to Android or iOS, and while it will likely stick around "for now", the future is murky.

The analysts expect that Microsoft will try to make another push with Windows RT devices running on Tegra 4 processors after Windows 8.1 is released, but based on the current sales numbers, it doesn't seem likely that RT has that long of a future.

source: ComputerWorld 

Next-gen Windows RT tablets to be rocking NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor

We had a tip recently that HTC is prepping its first tablets with Microsoft's upcoming Windows RT Blue operating system, that runs on ARM-based processors, which in their turn are famous with their frugal power consumption/performance ratio.

These two HTC R7 and R12 tablets, however, were listed as powered by Qualcomm processors, whereas now NVIDIA revealed in its conference call with investors after the quarterly results issue, that "multiple" Windows RT tablets will be sporting the powerful Tegra 4 processor, instead of a Snapdragon.

Rene Haas, Nvidia’s VP of computing products, also said that “Nvidia is very invested and very committed to Windows RT, and we feel it has a bright future. We feel this [platform] is where things are going.”

via Microsoft-news

I-mate Intelegent phone to shoehorn Windows 8 on a 4.7" screen for $750, dock in tow

Remember i-mate? The company used to make aluminum-clad, fairly compact smartphones in the dawn days of Windows Mobile, harking back to the early 2000s even.

Then its partnership with HTC fell flat, board members were accused of fraud, and we haven't seen anything from it for a few years already, just knew it relocated to Redmond, WA. That's until Microsoft came out with Windows 8. Although it said its new touch-oriented OS is not to be shoehorned in a phone, at least not yet, as it is not optimized for the smaller screens, i-mate went ahead and did just that.

The first phone running Windows 8 (not WP8) is apparently going by the clever codename Intelegent, and will be sold later this year at a $750 price point without any carrier subsidies, with GSM and CDMA radios inside.

With a 4.7" 1280x768 pixels HD screen, Intel Atom processor inside, 2 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, and an 8 MP camera, it will certainly be a very interesting proposition, be it only to see how i-mate solved the puzzle to fit the Win 8 interface on display of this size. Well, tiles are tiles, we guess, and Win 8 certainly supports that resolution, plus a 3000 mAh battery is going to back up the show, so endurance should be on par with modern smartphones, considering the frugal Atom CPU, which Intel said it provided know-how for when i-mate approached it 18 months ago. The CEO Morrison claims 10 hours of talk time and 6 hours of video playback, which is about the smartphone norm these days.

They did have to build their own cellular connectivity interface, complete with a dialer and backend APIs, as Win 8 isn't meant for phone calls, so they get routed through the Lync communication software, but the system i-mate built goes around the wake-up times needs of the full desktop OS, and takes just 45 milliseconds to respond and pick up an incoming call.

Another interesting detail, however, is that the Intelegent will have a docking system, similar to the Asus Padfonefranchise, with a tablet screen option to which the phone can beam videos wirelessly, for example. That whole kit is expected to cost $1600, but hasn't been demonstrated in the videos the company showed. Now all that is left is for i-mate to iron out the kinks and put the Intelegent on sale for a pretty interesting experiment. Its CEO Jim Morrison thinks that with the upcoming Windows Blue update, which is scaled for smaller screens, the task will be even easier.

source: PCWorld

Surprise! New Windows 8 ads are actually funny

Microsoft is known make solid business software, it’s known to make the most popular operating system in the world and it is known for many more great things, but its marketing is usually not one of them. This time, though, with its new Windows 8 ads targeting China Microsoft is right on the money and the ads are plain hilarious.

You won’t hear much about Windows 8 features in the ads, but instead the messages of “Beautiful and fast,” “Work and play,” and“The power of touch” come across great.

The videos are absurd, crazy, creative and extremely funny. This is definitely the kind of marketing Windows 8 would make use of. Some of its features haven’t been met with a huge excitement, but those universal messages in the ads definitely come across. Check them out below.

source: TheVerge

A 13" Sony slider with Triluminous display leaks in blurry footage, can we say Vaio Duo 13?

Windows 8 and its minions sprawled an abundance of unorthodox form factors, culminating with the Acer Aspire R7 here, and its crazy Ezel hinge. Sony is not one to shy away from bold design decisions, either, and it was one of the first to introduce a compact Win 8 slider, the Vaio Duo 11.

Now a training session at UK's electronics retailer Dixon has leaked on video, and, despite the low quality of the footage, we can see that the Japanese are prepping a larger, 13" version of the intriguing form factor, with hinge that actually seems a lot like the Ezel one of Acer, though it's not clear whether the Vaio Duo 13's panel flips as well. 

The slider is allegedly powered by a choice of Intel Core processors, sports a Full HD Triluminous touchscreen panel, and rounds it up with 4/8 GB of RAM, while 128/256/512 GB of SSD are reserved for storage. Sony's ClearAudio+ and an 8MP Exmor RS sensor on the back of the display part take care of the media I/O, and the gear apparently comes with its own stylus.

In any case, the announcement shouldn't be far away, so we are waiting for the price as the last piece of the eventual Vaio Duo 13 puzzle. As for the battery life, it is said to last 10 hours on a charge, which would be pretty darn great if Sony manages to pull it off.

source: CoolHotCold & Esato

Acer to offer 8.1 inch Windows 8 tablet? Amazon 86s the listing

During a press event in New York City on Friday, Acer released a series of tablets and laptops equipped with screens in the range of 11.6 to 15.6 inches. But what some Windows fans are demanding is a smaller tablet in the 7 to 8 inch range that would compete with the 7.9 inch Apple iPad mini and the 7 inch low-priced Android tablets like the Amazon Kindle Fire.

Speaking of Amazon, a tablet that was not introduced at the NYC event, the Acer W3-810, was displayed on Amazon. This tablet features an 8.1 inch 1280 x 800 resolution display with a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor under the hood. Inside the slate is 2GB of RAM and 32GB of native storage. Both front and back cameras weigh in at 2MP and the tablet includes a microUSB 2.0 port and a micro HDMI port. Weighing in at 1.1 pounds, the battery provides 8 hours of use.

The tablet will apparently be priced at $379.99 (vs. $329 for the iPad mini), but its launch might not be imminent as the tablet has been removed from Amazon. We do know that the next update to Windows will allow it to support smaller displays and lower resolution screens, so hopefully the launch of the Acer W3-810 won't be too far away. Just the other day,we told you that the Microsoft Surface could be available with a 7.5 inch screen for $399 or less, but that model is not due until Q1 of 2014.

source: Amazon, via TheVerge, WPCentral

Smaller Surface to have a 7.5" display, price tag of $399 or less

Microsoft has been rumored to be working on a smaller Surface for quite some time now, but we haven't really seen any specific facts regarding the device thus far. Today this changes as an NPD DisplaySearch analyst reports that Microsoft is looking to use a 7.5" display for its Surface mini tablet. Exactly where the analyst has gotten this info from remains unclear.

What's more, the 7.5" screen is said to be with a resolution of 1400 x 1050 pixels, which would make for a pixel density of 233 ppi. While this is more than what most tablets in this class can offer, it's very likely that by the time the small Surface comes out, the competition will be armed with similar or even higher resolutions. Unfortunately, NPD DisplaySearch says that the small Surface is still in the early stages of development and will probably enter mass production sometime in Q1 2014.

Meanwhile, Cnet has cited some other sources, who seem to be convinced that Microsoft will be looking to hit the $399 price-point with the Surface mini. Still, the sources also say that the price might be lower by the time the device launches. Even then, if Apple decides to keep the $329 price for its new iPad mini, which will probably have a much better resolution, we can once again see those Surfaces remain on the store shelves for quite some time with a price like this.

Toshiba WT310 fits an ultrabook into 11.6" Full HD tablet with Windows 8 Pro, is mum on the price

While Microsoft is on the cusp of introducing the second generation of Surface tablets, there's not exactly a glut of powerful Windows 8 slates in the meantime, so Toshiba decided to fill the void with the pro-oriented WT310 tablet.

It boasts an 11.6" Full HD display, which is good, but also an Intel Core CPU of undisclosed kind and aDigitizerPen as an added input option. There is a USB 3.0 port, if you were wondering, plus an HDMI one, as well as SD card slo. Besides the standard connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and optional 4G HSPA+ / LTE radios, we also get Intel's WiDi standard for wireless streaming.

A docking station with extra ports will be available, along with a bunch of enterprise-oriented niceties like a Trusted Platform Module, Active Management Technology and Anti-Theft software for IT department management.

The Toshiba WT310 tablet is as compact as an 11-incher with Intel Core CPU and Full HD screen can get, at 9 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches (229 x 189 x 12.4mm), weighing 29 ounces (825g), for those keeping track. Release is slated for later this quarter when the important details left out, like price, CPU type and storage capacity, will all be revealed.

Press Release

New Toshiba WT310 brings ultimate mobility and flexibility to professional tablet users
- Tablet designed for business users features Windows 8 Pro and Intel® Core™ processor
- DigitizerPen converts handwritten notes into editable text
- Pre-installed security and data management features enabling secure remote management

London, UK, 2nd May 2013 – Toshiba UK today announces the launch of the WT310 tablet, a powerful touchscreen device designed for business professionals on the move. To keep up with the busy professional, the WT310 comes packed with the latest Intel® Core™ processor and a range of features to ensure a fast and productive mobile working experience. With its 29.5cm (11.6") Full HD screen and a wide range of connectivity features, the WT310 offers users multiple ways of interacting with the Windows 8 Pro operating system for additional convenience.

A tablet that means business

Optimised for business use, the WT310 includes a comprehensive range of features designed to aid mobile workers, no matter what job is at hand. Featuring a touch sensitive display and Windows 8 Pro, users can quickly swipe, scroll and tap programs or documents. Users can also make handwritten notes using a bundled DigitizerPen – perfect for meeting minutes or seminars – while advanced software converts the notes into text documents for further editing or sharing with colleagues.

Advanced security and data management

Using Toshiba's quality and reliability testing, the WT310 has been designed to ensure it can comfortably handle intensive daily use. The resilient plastic coating of the WT310 ensures the internal components are protected from damage in the event of accidental drops, knocks or even heavy pressure. Resistant to movement, the internal solid state drive (SSD) provides additional storage reliability, so it's perfect for those long-haul business trips.

A range of advanced security and data management features are pre-installed on the tablet, including Intel® Anti-Theft – a software package that reduces the risk of unauthorised access – and the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) which safeguards locally stored critical data. IT managers can also monitor, maintain, repair and upgrade the WT310 remotely, thanks to the Intel® Active Management Technology on selected models, ensuring mobile professionals are always running the latest system updates.

Connectivity potential

Multiple connectivity options make it easy to output content on to a large screen or projector, ideal for meetings and presentations. An HDMI® micro port allows content to be displayed on a larger Full HD screen without any loss of detail, while the Intel® Wireless Display allows users to transfer multimedia to a compatible TV set or projectorwithout the need for cables.

For more intensive writing tasks, an optional docking cradle features additional ports for connecting to a keyboard, mouse or external hard drive. Additional HDMI® ports provide extra flexibility for outputting content and the full-size USB 3.0 port and SD™ card slot allow for storage to be extended if necessary. Furthermore, the cradle's Gigabit LAN port ensures fast and safe access to a corporate network.

The WT310 features Wi-Fi® b/g/n or a/g/b/n, as well as support to HSPA+/LTE networks for fast and reliable wireless broadband connectivity, and data transfer between other mobile devices such as smartphones is quick thanks to Bluetooth® 4.0 as standard.

Toshiba WT310 facts & figures

· 29.5 cm (11.6") anti-glare Full HD high brightness touch display

· DigitizerPen (on selected models)

· Latest Intel® processor technology for Ultrabooks™

· SSD storage

· Connectivity: 1x full size USB 3.0, 1x HDMI® micro, SD™ card slot, Wi-Fi b/g/n or a/g/b/n Intel® Wireless Display, optional embedded HSPA+/LTE module

· Business utility tools: Trusted Platform Module (TPM v1.2), Intel® Active Management Technology (AMT), Intel® Anti-Theft, Toshiba Eco Utility software

· Colours: Steel grey metallic

· Dimensions: 229x189x12.4 mm

· Weight: Starting at 825g

· Windows 8 Pro (64bit)

The Toshiba WT130 will be available in the UK from Q2 2013.

Intel says $200 Android laptops and $400 Core hybrids are in production

There have been rumors that Android-powered laptops and laptop/tablet hybrids are in the works, but there has never been all that much as far as concrete information on what to expect. Now, Intel is pulling back the curtain a bit to talk about how much the first round of Android-powered laptops could cost you when they are released.

Last week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini had said that there would be $200 touchscreen laptops on the way over the next couple months, and just a couple days ago Dadi Perlmutter, Intel executive vice president and chief product office, surprised some by saying that the majority of those devices would be Android laptops running on Intel's Atom processors. And, for the power users out there Perlmutter said that there would be Android laptops and hybrids running on Intel's Core series processors starting at just $399 to $499. 

Android won't be replacing Windows 8, but it sounds like the Android devices will definitely undercut the Windows 8 devices on price. Now, it's just a matter of seeing how Android goes over with laptop users after its steady success in phones and tablets. 

source: CNET

Asus ME302C tablet leaks in bechmarks, has Intel Atom processor

So, it looks like the Asus Fonepad won't be the last Intel-powered Android tablet by Asus. There's a new, yet-to-be-announced model in tow, as revealed by the data in these benchmark results. Known as the Asus ME302C, it is a member ot the EeePad family, presumably with a screen of (or around) 10 inches, given its display resolution of 1920 by 1200 pixels.

What is also known about the Asus ME302C is that it is equipped with an Atom processor running at 1.6GHz, most likely the Z2560 with PowerVR SGX 544MP graphics. Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean is expected to come on the device once it is on the market. The rest is shrouded by mystery at this time, meaning that there's a lot we can speculate about.

Judging by its benchmark results, the Asus ME302C is likely to offer above average performance, although it won't set any new records in that field. Since it will belong to the Eee Tab lineup, it might be a new Transformer model, with a physical keyboard dock for fast typing and extended battery life. But that's just a guess. In case we learn more about the Asus ME302C tablet, rest assured that we'll let you know.

source: GFXBench 

Dell introduces XPS 10 Windows RT tablet with 4G LTE connectivity

Dell’s XPS 10 running Windows RT has been available since the launch of Windows RT last October. Like all the other Windows RT tablets out there, its connectivity relied solely on Wi-Fi networks with no cellular connectivity options. 

Today, Dell announced the option of adding 4G LTE connectivity for the XPS 10 line of tablets, with service provided by AT&T.

Customers can activate the service quickly and easily, right from the tablet if they choose. AT&T has a $10 per month data add-on feature or a stand-alone $30 per month data plan. People that want to buy the LTE equipped XPS 10 have to opt for the 64GB model. That, along with the LTE radio bring the initial retail price to $599. Dell offers some additional savings for those that order the mobile keyboard dock to go with their tablet, bringing the total to $750. 

Dell brings a feature that is lacking from the other Windows RT tablets to the XPS 10. The wireless integration should be seamless too as it is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and Qualcomm is known for solid LTE integration with its chipsets. While it may seem a bit pricey, remember that it is a tablet with a keyboard dock, undercutting a 64GB LTE equipped Apple iPad by $80 and it is only $50 more expensive than a Wi-Fi only version of the same iPad. If you forgo the keyboard dock altogether, you are saving over $200 versus a similarly equipped iPad.

Granted, there are some distinct differences, most notably the display.  However, given what most people use tablets for, and the fact that you get Office and OneNote in the deal, it is worthy of consideration. 

source: Dell