HP hasn’t had tons of luck in the mobile devices market. The HP TouchPad was an interesting product, but ultimately fell short. Same thing happened with their smartphone endeavors. Luckily, HP isn’t one to give up. They’ve recently pushed hard into the Windows 8 tablet territory, and even released a budget Android tablet, the Slate 7.

So what’s next for HP in the tablet space? The company has now announced the HP Slatebook X2, a 10.1-inch Android slate that works a lot like the Asus Transformer series – combining an Android tablet with a convertible laptop base.

The Slatebook X2 looks very similar to HP’s convertible Windows tablets, with the big difference here being that this impressive looking tablet runs on the power of a Tegra 4 processor, has a 1920 x 1200 resolution display, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Other specs include a 2MP rear cam, an HD capable front cam, internal storage up to 64GB, microSD, HDMI, USB 2.0, DTS+ sound and a full-sized keyboard dock.

So how much will this little “netbook meets tablet” beauty cost you? The HP Slatebook X2 is expected to arrive in August with a price point of $480. It is currently unclear whether that price includes the keyboard dock, but if it does – that’s a hell of dell for a device that effectively is both a true tablet and a great netbook replacement.

What do you think of the Slatebook X2, did HP finally get it right in the mobile department?

[ source ]

The post HP SlateBook X2: An Android Convertible Laptop appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Barnes and Noble recently introduced price cutting on its tablet line, alongside the introduction of support for Google Play. Many feel the reason that this move was made was to be more competitive against other tablets including the Kindle Fire line, others say it is a way to push remaining stock before bowing out of the tablet game.

Now it looks like an internal document has surfaced suggesting that Nook is ending its involvement in creating Android-based tablets by 2014, instead looking to have partners create devices designed around Nook’s software and store. Additionally, the reports claim Microsoft is looking to take its investment in the Nook one step further, buying it out.

It’s really hard to say whether this is true or not, and if it is, what Microsoft plans to do with the Nook line. They could strongly integrate Nook services into their Windows 8 tablets, and they could also spin-off their own Nook-centric tablets.
If this happened, the tablets would probably run on some form of Windows 8 or Windows Embedded as opposed to Android, of course.

What do you think, if the rumor is true, should Microsoft buy Nook? Or should Nook continue to ride out its new strategy of aggressive pricing and Google Play support and see where that takes the company first? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

[ source ]

The post Rumor: Nook Preparing to End Android Tablet Endeavors, Microsoft Looking to Buy Nook appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

It has been talked about for a while that HTC is working on Windows tablets to be released sometime this year. According to a new rumor, the Taiwanese manufacturer is planning to release two tablets running Windows RT Blue in October.

First up is the smaller of the two, the HTC R7, which could be the first of a wave of small screen Windows tablets expected to be available in the coming months. The R7 apparently boasts a 7-inch full HD screen, a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, a 13 MP cam, 16GB of storage (and microSD slot), and it will be available as a Wi-Fi only version and as a model with LTE/HSPA+ support.

The R7’s bigger screened brother, the HTC R12, will reportedly feature a 12-inch display with a resolution of 2048×1536 (similar to the iPad’s Retina Display). It will come equipped with the same internal specs as the R7, though the R12 will add NFC and HDMI.

The rumor suggests that the devices will be launched on October 13^th. There’s currently no info regarding possible price tags, though we believe that they won’t come cheap looking at the specs. If the R7 is coming with the reported features, it is less likely to hit the market as a budget tablet to go against tablets like the Nexus 7. For that segment, “Clover Trail” tablets are expected to arrive sometime in the future.

[Source]

The post HTC Windows RT Blue Tablets Might Arrive In October appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Windows 8 has certainly received mixed reception up until this point, but Microsoft is hoping to change all of that with Windows Blue, aka Windows 8.1. Microsoft hopes to win folks over to Windows Blue, and has officially confirmed that they will be releasing a preview version just in time for its Build conference this June.

So what’s new in Windows Blue? Essentially, Blue is all about making the learning curve of Windows 8 less harsh. That means making customization and other aspects better in the new Start Screen. While not 100%-confirmed, there is also strong reason to believe that Microsoft is actively considering returning the start button in Windows Blue.

Keep in mind that the Start Button’s return doesn’t mean the Windows 7-style start menu will return, it will still use the full-screen Start menu from Windows 8.

After Windows Blue debuts, Microsoft is also looking to get into the small-screen tablet market with 7 and 8-inch devices.

Can Windows Blue help address some of the concerns surrounding Windows 8? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

[ source ]

The post Windows Blue Will Get Public Preview in June, Microsoft Confirms appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Late last month we reported on a leaked tablet, the Acer Iconia W3. At the time, the W3 was believed to be the world’s first smaller-screen Windows tablet, though little details were known. During the weekend, Amazon put up a listing for the tablet giving us a lot more details, at least until the page was taken down.

So what can we expect from the Acer Iconia W3-810, provided Amazon’s listing got things right? First, it will be powered by a dual-core Intel Atom processor, accompanied by 2GB of RAM. Next, we know it has an 8.1-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. Some of the other specs that we are aware of include 32GB internal storage, 2MP rear cam, 8 hours battery life (average) and 1 USB 2.0 port.

The tablet runs on Windows 8 and manages to weigh just 1.1-pounds. It certainly sounds like a decent enough tablet, but what about pricing? The original listing points to a price of $379.99, which is quite a bit more expensive than the iPad Mini’s $329 price tag or the Nexus 7 32GB model’s price of $249.

Still, this is the cheapest we’ve seen from a Windows tablet so far and with an x86 processor in tow, the Acer Iconia W3-810 also has the advantage of working with a vast array of Windows legacy software. This might not matter so much to the average Joe, but for business users, it could certainly be an important difference.

Personally, I was hoping to see Microsoft and its partners aim for a $275-$350 target range for these smaller tablets. At the current range, they still could offer an important value for those that are highly invested in the Microsoft brand and ecosystem, but $380 is still a bit of a hard sell compared to Android and iOS small-screen tablet pricing.

What do you think, is Microsoft asking too much or are they priced just right?

[ source ]

The post Amazon Leaks New Details About Windows-Powered 8.1-inch Acer Tablet appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Windows 8 might not be selling like hot-cakes, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a success at least at some level. With the mobile-centric OS, Microsoft hoped to push into tablets in a more meaningful way than ever before. That mission has been accomplished, at least to some degree.

According to the latest IDC stats, Windows say a measly .2 million tablets shipped last year, which for most of that year means Windows 7 devices. Three months into 2013, tablet shipments are up 700% with 1.6 million units. Microsoft also now represents 1.8% of the tablet market thanks to its Surface line, making it the fifth most significant tablet brand if IDC’s numbers are correct.

Sure, these numbers are paltry compared with Apple, Samsung, Asus and other brands – but it is still a foot in the door, and that’s what Microsoft was aiming for. Now they just need to push on with the Surface brand, and with the upcoming Windows Blue. It won’t be an easy road, but the groundwork is perhaps finally there to at least allow Microsoft to compete as a solid third place contender in the mobile world.

So what’s next for Microsoft? While we can’t say for sure, DigiTimes claims to have some insider information. Before we go forward, just remember that DigiTimes has a very mixed reputation when it comes to rumors, so speculation is needed.

The latest gossip ships to indicate that the second generation Surface line is coming in June at Microsoft’s BUILD Conference, which could see not only a new 10-inch model, but also 7 and 8-inch variants.

While this is a rumor, it isn’t terribly far-fetched. We already know that Windows Blue is going to be officially shown off at BUILD, and even a Preview version might be released. We also know that Microsoft has previously talked about the possibility of 7-inch tablets, and that rumors indicate Windows 8.1 Blue will be more tablet friendly.

Smaller Windows tablets and a smaller Surface are coming eventually, it’s just hard to say if June is too early or not. What do you think, would you be interested in a smaller-screen Microsoft Surface tablet if Microsoft can position the device at a price equal to or lesser than the iPad Mini?

[ source ]

The post With Microsoft Tablets Slowly on the Rise, What’s Next For the Surface Brand? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Microsoft needs to hurry up and confirm its new multimedia gaming system, the Xbox 720 (or Xbox 3 or Durango or whatever have you). Why? Because similar to gossip around Windows Blue early on, things are getting pretty wild when it comes to speculation regarding always-on DRM, used gaming abilities and other related issues.

IF Microsoft goes with an always-on policy for its next Xbox console, there are some strong negatives here. There are also some positives hidden underneath. So let’s talk about that for a bit, shall we? Let’s start with the biggest ‘negatives’ in regards to the next Xbox always being on.

Always-On Xbox: Cons

Not everyone has high-speed Internet: I know it’s hard to believe. Even in developed countries in Europe, North America, Asia and elsewhere, some people still use dial-up or only have Internet access through their smartphone.

As tablets and smartphones become more commonplace, many folks are turning to cellular connections and cutting the cable/DSL cord at home.

If you don’t want/need a powerful laptop or desktop, you might have no need for home Internet. It seems like a pretty big pain in the ass to pay for online connectivity in your home if your only device using it is the Xbox.

There is also the concern about if you have high-speed Internet but it goes down for whatever reason. The main time I seem to play my console systems or even PC games is when the Internet is out of commission for a little while. I would personally hate the idea of my expensive console pretty much just being a shiny brick when my net connection is down.

Concerns about used games: Just yesterday, Nowgamer published an article where they claim that a source close to Xing’s interactive managing director has unofficially confirmed the next Xbox 720 will not only require always-on but will also have DRM that could make it so used games are a thing of the past.

While I’d take this assertion with a grain of salt, it is something to think seriously about. In a perfect scenario, maybe Microsoft would only require you to ‘register’ your game once and lock it to the console, where it would install and not require the disc to play. Then if you didn’t want it anymore and wished to sell it, you could simply ‘de-register’ it and it would remove all the files from your system, making it a clean disc copy that could then be resold.

In a nightmare scenario, Microsoft locks the game to your system and checks every time you play. It can be delocked and so there is no reselling it if you decide the purchase wasn’t a good one.

Just the idea: With SimCity have server issues because many of the game’s elements where in the cloud, you might feel that a time could come when the next Halo isn’t playable the day or even week you buy it because the single-player campaign (for those of us that actually play it) requires you to be online and the servers are bogged down.

We are no doubt moving to a computing future that fully lives in the cloud, and that’s means an “always on” lifestyle. Some of us aren’t ready to make that change right now, however.

Always-On Xbox: Pros

Is always on DRM all doom and gloom? Not necessarily. There could be positive aspects as well.

Better online integration: Xbox Live is already an immersive experience with plenty to do, but allowing it to go fully to the cloud for save files, social interaction and other elements could make the experience even better.

Even single-player games could be enhanced with social features and perhaps even the ability for friends to jump in and ‘help’ a little. Though some of us (myself included) like single-player experiences where we are truly left alone to handle ourselves.

An always updated experience: In its lifespan, the Xbox 360′s software has changed so dramatically (multiple times) that you almost feel like a late-2005 Xbox 360 and that same Xbox 360 today are two different systems with the addition of tons of apps and other experiences that weren’t there from day one.

With an always-on experience, your console could turn itself on to pre-fetch these changes and ensure that you always have the latest software. That means you won’t turn on your console, go on live and then find you have to wait to play because you need to download some patch first.

No need for them pesky discs: With always-on DRM, you could just install your game from the disc and then archive it for later. That means no need to worry about discs when it is time to play your favorite Xbox title.

How often aren’t we online? For the vast majority of us, we log into our PS3 Network or Xbox Live the second we start our console even if we aren’t planning on playing multiplayer, heading to the store, or doing anything else that requires an online experience.

Not to mention so many of us use our consoles as a multimedia gateway almost more than we do for gaming, from movies to music and even television.

Going always-on doesn’t seem like a huge stretch in this case and makes us more open to receiving messages and other social data from our friends and family.

Summing it all up…

In short, there are a few positive reasons to give in to an always-on Xbox, but do they outweigh the negatives? While I personally am leaning towards “no”, it really depends on your own personal feelings. For some people, the idea might not be perfect, but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker either.

Others would absolutely say that if Xbox goes down this path, they aren’t interested. Ultimately I feel that Microsoft will evaluate the opinion of its gaming and multimedia-viewing audience before doing anything too drastic, but you never know.

How do you feel about the always-on Xbox? Would you still buy one or not?

[ image source ]

The post Next Xbox: Is Always-On Functionality All Bad? appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Microsoft recently confirmed that it was in fact working on smaller-sized Windows tablets for the not-too-distant future, something we’ve been expecting for a while now. With the market making a push to 7 and 8-inch tablets it was only a matter of time. Still, when will we see the first tablet with a smaller display? The newly leaked Iconia W3-810 seems to indicate the answer to that is “soon”.

The W3-810 is a mid-range 8-inch tablet with a 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor. Not much else is known about the device, but we can guess that it will be reasonably affordable considering the small display size.

IF Acer can release such a device at similar pricing to devices like Apple’s iPad Mini, it could certainly catch the attention of those that have occasional need of basic desktop Windows programs, such as those in the business world. Remember that with the power of an Atom processor, the W3-810 might not be running modern PC games or advanced PC programs, but it could certainly handle basic programs and older PC games.

What do you think of the idea of 7 and 8-inch Windows tablets, would you be interested if Microsoft and its partners can actually deliver aggressive pricing this time around?

[ source ]

The post Acer iconia W3-810 Leaks to the Net as the First 8-inch Windows Tablet appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

We’ve heard rumors more than once about the idea of Microsoft moving beyond the 10+-inch tablet form factor, but nothing official from Microsoft confirming such a move – until now.

Microsoft’s CFO Peter Klein mentioned in a call with investors that they were working with manufacturers to develop “a new suite of small touch devices powered by Windows”. He didn’t give any more details than that.

With the smallest Windows tablet currently sizing in at 10.1-inches, that leaves open the 9, 8 or 7-inch tablet market for expansion. Considering that 8-inch tablets are starting to gain momentum, Microsoft might consider starting there, or maybe going a bit bigger, perhaps an 8.5-inch tablet?

Whatever they do, pricing will be key here. Small tablets are competitively priced and regardless of whether Microsoft goes the RT (ARM) or Windows 8 (x86) route, it can’t cost a fortune if they want to do well. The good news is that Intel has confirmed its next-gen chips will allow Windows 8 devices to be priced as low as $200, so perhaps that remark was talking about Intel-powered devices with smaller displays?

Would you be interested in a Windows tablet with a smaller display, as long as the pricing was at the very least under that of the iPad Mini?

Source: Mashable

The post Microsoft Confirms They Are Working on Small-Screen Tablets appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The traditional PC market is continuing to shrink as devices like smartphones and tablets eat into the marketshare. There are certainly some critics who feel that Windows 8 is a big part of that blame, and with that in mind we present today’s newest rumor.

Intel is allegedly preparing to push new Haswell-based convertible notebooks running Android. Think devices like the Asus Transformer Prime, though manufacturers involved supposedly include Asus, Acer, HP, Toshiba and Lenovo.

The rumor further asserts that Lenovo will lead the way with this new Android “notebook” push by introducing an Android-powered variant of the Yoga this May.

So how much would an Intel Android convertible cost? The rumored price point would be sub-$500. At this price, they would be a considerably cheaper alternative to Ultrabooks and Macbooks. These convertibles would also represent a spiritual successor to the netbook, which has since largely faded into obscurity in the last few years.

By providing a device that was small, cheap and good for typing while also fully capable of seperating from the keyboard, Intel and its partners could find a way to bring out the best of netbooks and tablets all in one form.

Such a move from Intel doesn’t sound totally insane, but I would still be more than a little cautious about believing this latest rumor due to its source. Digitimes is known for generating tons of rumors, with a mixed reputation on actually getting them right.

Still, Android would work just fine as a basic notebook alternative. Android has plenty of apps and its productivity offerings such as Office Suite Pro aren’t half bad. What do you think, for a price around $375-$475 would you consider purchasing a convertible Android device as a replacement for a traditional Mac, Windows or Linux laptop?

[ source ]

The post Rumor: Intel and Partners Working on Android Convertible Push appeared first on Mobile Magazine.