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News Week of January 8, 2012

CES 2012 Coverage - Showstoppers

Take a look at some cool new technologies coming:

  • Lenovo's Ideapad Android Tablets
  • Lenovo's Yogi Windows 8 Tablet PC - Very Cool Folding!
  • Lenovo's Smartphones running Intel's new processor
  • and other cool devices

Look for more coverage throughout the week!  (Source: Chris De Herrera, Tablet PC Talk)


Posted Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.5

CES 2012 Coverage - Digital Experience

Take a look at some cool new technologies coming:

  • 3D video without glasses which is bright
  • Fujitsu's Tablet PCs
  • HTC Titan II
  • Nokia's Windows Phone 7.5 Devices

Look for more coverage throughout the week!  (Source: Chris De Herrera, Tablet PC Talk)


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.4

Nvidia shows Microsoft�s Windows 8 running on a Tegra 3 tablet

�I can�t wait to ship it,� Huang said. �This is going to be a fantastic tablet year, with (Google�s) Ice Cream Sandwich and Windows 8.�

Nvidia, which is the largest stand-alone maker of PC graphics chips, spent most of its press conference showing how well rich applications can run on Nvidia-based tablets with Tegra 3 chips. Huang showed off the graphics features of Tegra 3, playing cool 3D games such as Wipeout HD and Shadowgun (a first-person shooter game) on an Nvidia-based tablet. Huang used one of the best pro gamers on the planet, Johnathan �Fatal1ty� Wendell to demonstrate the game on an Asustek Transformer Prime tablet-and-PC hybrid.

Huang sang the praises of Ice Cream Sandwich version of the Google Android operating system, which he said unites the fragmented pieces of Android. The Eee Pad Transformer Prime is available for sales today, running Ice Cream Sandwich. (Source: Dean Takahashi, Venture Beat)


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 4.33

CES: RIM unveils BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0

Research in Motion (RIM) has unveiled the next iteration of its BlackBerry PlayBook operating system which gives the tablet PC the ability to receive email without needing to be connected to a BlackBerry smartphone.

The latest version of the PlayBook OS, which is based the QNX operating system RIM acquired in 2010, was demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show, which is taking place in Las Vegas this week. The software features a unified inbox, which RIM says will combine emails with messages from social media sites including Twitter and Facebook all in one place. (Source:


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.5

Intel shows off hybrids: Ultrabooks that turn into tablets

On Monday, a day before the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will officially open here, Intel executives talked about their plans for ultrabooks and said that many of the world's biggest PC manufacturers would be unveiling ultrabooks equipped with Intel's upcoming Core processor Ivy Bridge.

Erik Reid, general manager of Intel's mobile client platforms, told Computerworld that he doesn't have a specific number, but has heard that about 25 to 30 ultrabooks will be unveiled this week.

Reid also said 75 ultrabooks will be released this year, with most of them coming out around the middle of the year when Intel's upcoming Core processors code-named Ivy Bridge, successors to the Sandy Bridge processors, become available.   (Source: Sharon Gaudin, ComputerWorld)


Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 3.12

Four Screens Are Better than One with Lenovo's New "Personal Cloud" Vision

Latest Product Development Links Gadgets in Pockets, Briefcases and Home

LAS VEGAS, Jan 08, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lenovo, the world's number two PC company, is flexing its innovation muscle at this year's Consumer Electronics Show and beyond, to create a seamless digital experience for its customers across multiple devices, be it PCs, tablets, smartphones or Smart TVs. Lenovo recently unveiled its "Personal Cloud" vision, marking the transformation of the company from a "personal computer" manufacturer to a "personal cloud solution" provider that integrates hardware, software and cloud computing together. The Company's direction is evident in a variety of new products, including the IdeaTab S2, Smartphone S2 and K91 smart TV.

"Lenovo is breaking down the barriers of device differentiation and weaving together hardware, software and cloud services that are connected, experiential and dynamic," said Liu Jun, senior vice president and president, Mobile Internet and Digital Home business group. "We understand our users need more than just the traditional keyboard and screen for a truly satisfying digital experience. Our Personal Cloud vision integrates all devices, from tablets to TVs, for a comprehensive mobile Internet experience anytime, anywhere."

IdeaTab S2 10 Struts New Specs and Multimedia Prowess

Thinner than its predecessors, the IdeaTab S2 10-inch is just one-third of an inch thin and, at a feather-light 1.1lbs, is one of the lightest 10-inch tablets available today. IdeaTab S2 features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8960 dual core CPU and Android 4.0 operating systems to offer a better multimedia experience. Running Lenovo Mondrian UI, the user-friendly IdeaTab S2 10" displays customized content and includes easy access to the Lenovo App Shop and the Android Market for thousands of useful apps, such as Amazon Kindle, ooVoo, Angry bird and mSpot. Its detachable design, combined with a light keyboard dock, can deliver an incredible 20 hours of battery life, which is great for both entertainment and productivity.

S2 Smartphone Boasts Security and Photography Creds

The S2 smartphone includes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon technology and Android 2.3 operating system. The device includes a unique Kernel-level security system to protect personal data, prevent phishing, and control network and SMS traffic. Users can also take advantage of its 8MP super camera to capture amazing panoramic photos on the go. S2 is also ready for the Cloud, and instantly syncs photos, music, videos and personal information with a dedicated online storage space for easy sharing across multiple devices.

K91--the World's First Smart TV to Run Android 4.0 OS

As the world's first smart TV powered by QualComm's 8060 Snapdragon dual core CPU, the K91 is also the world's first smart TV running the Android 4.0 operating system - which will revolutionize technology in the living room. Its smart "Sandwich" UI unites three major smart TV functions, including Video On Demand (VOD), Internet applications and traditional TV programs. The online HD VOD is tailored to an individual consumer's viewing history, and delivers the best picture and audio quality with 3D FPR technology delivering flicker-free video on a full HD IPS panel at 240hz with SRS TruSurround. Internet applications include thousands of choices from the Android Market and Lenovo Store, including console games. Additional smart TV features include voice control with natural language processing and speech recognition technology, allowing viewers to use voice commands to control the remote. Video interaction is even possible with the built-in 5MP webcam, which integrates face recognition technology for security benefits and advanced parental control. With cloud support, consumers can access their favorite songs and videos with ease, share files between the TV and their tablet, smartphone or PC, and even control the TV via tablet and smartphone.

The IdeaTab S2 tablet, S2 smartphone and K91 smart TV are available immediately in China. Lenovo will be releasing these products worldwide at a later date. More information on these products is available at www.lenovo.com

Join Lenovo at the LVCC and the AquaKnox Restaurant in The Venetian During CES 2012

Lenovo has once again transformed the AquaKnox Restaurant located in the Venetian Hotel into the Lenovo Showcase during CES. Members of the press are invited to stop in to speak with Lenovo's product experts and to see the company's latest products across the Think, Idea and MIDH (Mobile Internet & Digital Home) lines. Additionally, Lenovo will have a unique product showcase for press in the Central Plaza just outside of the LVCC Central Hall. Those not attending CES can experience the show through video commentary provided by Lenovo executives and partners in Las Vegas on LenovoVision, Lenovo's YouTube channel. Lenovo's CES activities will also be promoted via Twitter using the #lenovoces hashtag.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

About Lenovo

Lenovo /quotes/zigman/21902 HK:992 +1.61% (adr:LNVGY) is a $US21 billion personal technology company -- and the second largest PC company in the world, serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo's business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com .

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50126059&lang=en   (Source Press Release, Business Wire) 


Posted Sunday, January 8, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 4.12

The Inside Story of India�s $50 Computer Tablet

The Aakash is the product of a competition sponsored by the Indian government in February of this year to develop and manufacture an ultra-cheap tablet optimized for the nation�s 1.2 billion market, targeting a price point below $50. Montreal-based Datawind, founded in 2000 by the brothers Raja and Suneet Singh Tuli, beat out giants like European semiconductor titan STMicroelectronics by coming up with a design that undercut the next highest bidder by nearly 25%. In fact, when the results were announced, CEO Suneet Tuli frantically called his older brother to ask if they�d accidentally miscalculated their costs. CTO Raja assured his sibling that they hadn�t: They�d won the bid. Now all they had to do was deliver.

On December 14, they did just that � putting the Aakash on sale for the absurd price of 2500 rupees, or around $47, hoping to move 100,000 units over the course of 2012. That figure was seen as staggeringly optimistic, since it represented 40 percent of India�s total market for tablet computers. But as soon as the announcement went all, their call center was jammed with calls, and their website started crashing due to excess traffic, to the point where their Internet provider warned them they might be experiencing a malicious hack attack. Their initial inventory of 30,000 units sold out in three days. Within two weeks, they�d built up a backlog of 1.4 million preorders. According to CEO Suneet Tuli, that reservation pool is now over 2 million � and still going strong.

�We�re overwhelmed,� says Tuli. �If you talked to analysts a couple months ago, they�d have told you their forecasts for all tablet sales in India in 2012 was around 250,000 units. We were more optimistic: We thought the market was more like one million, and hoped we could do 10 percent of that. And now it looks like we could exceed that by 15 or 20 times.� (Source: Jeff Yang, The Wall Street Journal)


Posted Sunday, January 8, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 4.33

Ultrabooks to Usurp Tablets at 2012 CES

If one of themes of the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show was the rise of Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android tablets, this year's CES event will be the year the Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows laptop market is revitalized with so-called ultrabooks.

Ultrabooks are not supercomputers packed in small frames, or super electronic reading devices. They're simply less expensive, Windows versions of MacBook Air machines that use flash storage and boot up in 10 seconds or less. At between $700 and $1,000 apiece, and between 3 and 5 pounds, ultrabooks are this year's hot-ticket item at CES. 

PC-making powers such as Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ), Acer, Asus, Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) and every other computer maker under the sun are expected to tout their ultrabooks at the show in Las Vegas this week. Forrester Research expects to see at least 50 of these computers at CES, with their makers touting their machines as "low-cost."  (Source: Clint Boulton, eWeek)


Posted Sunday, January 8, 2012 by ChrisD
Rating: 5

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