September 2011

Hot Hardware ran a nice hands-on preview of the business-class Android-based Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet [See Hot Hardware preview of the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet]

Apotheker out, Whitman in at Hewlett Packard
After shutting down WebOS and plans to jettison its entire world-leading PC business in favor of becoming a software and service company didn't go over well with analysts and Wall Street, HP's board did another knee-jerk reaction by replacing beleaguered CEO Leo Apotheker with former eBay CEO and recent unsuccessful candidate for California's governorship, Meg Whitman. Let's hope things will settle down at HP so the company can return to be the rock-solid technology powerhouse it once was. -- Posted Thursday, September 22, 2011 by chb

EMEA tablet shipments robust
According to IDC, media tablets did well in the EMEA market during the second quarter of 2011. The Apple iPad maintained and enforced its leading position with a 67% market share, followed by Samsung with 7% and Acer with 6.1%. Q2 tablet shipments were up 82% on the previous quarter and grew to over 4.4 million units. -- Posted Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by chb

Archos to release two new Android 3.2 G9 Series tablets
Archos is introducing its G9 series of Android 3.2-based tablets, consisting of the 80 G9 (8-inch 1024 x 768 display) and the 101 G9 (10.1-inch 1280 x 800 display). Specs for both models are very similar (1-1.5GHz TI OMAP chip, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, mini HDMI, micro USB, microSD card, 720p front camera) and the units will be available with either 8 or 16GB of Flash, or a 250GB hard drive. Pricing will be US$299 to 369 for the 8-inch model and US$399 to 469 for the 10.1-inch model. -- Posted Monday, September 19, 2011 by chb

Media Tablets 2011 table: updated
It took well over a year for the industry to come up with serious competitors to Apple's iPad, but now customers increasingly have vendor/platform/features options when it comes to selecting media tablets. We've compiled a spec table of the major media tablets, almost 40 in all, and will keep adding to the list, so check back frequently. [View updated 2011 Media Tablet Spec Table] -- Posted Sunday, September 18, 2011 by chb

Seton Hall University adds 400 Android-based Lenovo ThinkPad tablets
Seton Hall University announced it is the first higher education institution in the U.S. to use Lenovo's ThinkPad Tablet PC, with more than 400 tablets now circulating amongst students and faculty in the Sciences, Honors and School of Business Leadership Programs. The University is making the 1280 x 800 pixel 10.1-inch, Android 3.1 tablets a central part of its Mobile Computing Program as well as an essential teaching device. [See press release] -- Posted Thursday, September 15, 2011 by chb

Singletouch Mobile now available on tablets
Singletouch Corporation, whose software toolset gives industrial contractors control of their business, introduced a tablet-based deployment of its Singletouch Mobile that extends the functionality of the platform into remote worksites that lack internet connection. [Read Singletouch press release] -- Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by chb

Microsoft previews Windows 8 at BUILD conference
At its developer-focused BUILD conference in LA, Microsoft did a preview of the next major release of Windows, code-named Windows 8. Windows 8 is supposed to have "the best of Windows 7, only better," support ARM chips, and will be compatible with "the devices and programs you use today on Windows 7, without compromise." Microsoft says Windows 8 will enable new ultrathin PCs and tablets that "turn on instantly, run all day on a single charge and stay connected to the Internet." Windows 8 will have a "Metro" interface that is built for touch, but works just as well with mouse and keyboard. Metro-style apps will be full-screen and communicate with one another. There will be a Windows Store for apps. -- Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by chb

Atmel's maXTouch/mXT1386 touch system used in the Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC.
Atmel announced that its Atmel maXTouch mXT1386 is the first touch controller to enable touch performance with Microsoft's touch-centric Metro interface in the previewed Windows 8. The mXT1386 controller is used in the Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC. Leveraging Atmel's proven maXTouch technology, the mXT1386 is the first device in Atmel's maXTouch family that will support Windows 8 for touchscreens in a variety of sizes. [See press release and Atmel mXT1386 product page] -- Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by chb

Qualcomm Gobi and Snapdragon to power upcoming Win 8 hardware
Qualcomm announced that it is collaborating with Microsoft to enable Qualcomm's Snapdragon family of mobile processors to power the first generation of Windows 8-based PCs. In addition, Qualcomm's Gobi mobile Internet connectivity solutions will provide Windows 8-based PCs with wireless 3G/4G connectivity to deliver an always-connected experience. [See Qualcomm powers Windows 8] -- Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2011 by chb

Current Analysis launches Tablet Tracker
Current Analysis announced the launch of its new Tablet Tracker designed to provide vendors, carriers, and retailers with detailed insight into the competitive landscape for consumer tablets on a monthly basis. -- Posted Monday, September 12, 2011 by chb

Microsoft signs Android patent deals with two more companies
Acer and Viewsonic have also signed Android patent agreements with Microsoft in deals that cannot be viewed as anything but Acer and Viewsonic joining the group of companies that have already been pressured into paying protection money to Microsoft in order not to get sued by Microsoft, which has nothing to do with Android at all. It is shameful and regrettable that this sort of thing is legal. -- Posted Monday, September 12, 2011 by chb

Sony reveals specs, release date of 9.4-inch Tablet S
A while ago, Sony announced two tablets, the Sony Tablet S and the Sony Tablet P, without revealing specs other than the somewhat unique concept of each device. Sony has now finally revealed specs for the Nvidia Tegra 2-powered Tablet S, a folded-book 9.4-inch design with a thicker booklike spine, 1280 x 800 resolution, Android 3.2, SD Card, dual cameras, 16 or 32GB of storage, and a weight of just 1.22 pounds. Both Sony Tablet devices come complete with access to a full suite of Sony's network entertainment services. The Sony Tablet S will cost US$499/599 and will be available in the US starting around September 16. [See Sony Tablet S in Sony store] -- Posted Friday, September 2, 2011 by chb