Mobilityfeeds

Asus to give away free GPS dongles to Transformer Prime owners

As we have reported before, the GPS issues within the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Android tablet / netbook have not necessarily been resolved after a few updates have been released for the known bug.

Many owners of the Transformer Prime have reported their frustration in the issue, which continues to plague the king of Android tablets.

Not really the memory you want to have embedded in the minds of potential android tablet owners in the future when the Apple's iPad 2 and new iPad (3rd generation) are ruling the roost.

Asus may see there's just no fixing this type of issue without either recalling the Transformer Prime tablets as a whole, or by giving away Free GPS dongles to those who apply.

Evernote for Windows Phone gets also its upgrade

Evernote hands down has to be our favorite app.

So we thought we'd let all Microsoft's Windows Phone users know what the latest Evernote update adds notebook sharing functionality in addition to better searching and editing.

Now Windows Phone users can share entire notebooks from the mobile app.
Via the People panel, you can share notebooks by creating a link that you share with others via Email.
Via the Public panel, you can create a link that can be shared via Email or anywhere else (social networking sites, etc.).

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet/netbook gets a new firmware update (9.4.2.21)

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again.

When it comes to customer support for Android devices, Asus is alone at the top.
It listens to its customers.
It corrects mistakes when and where it needs to.

And it’s extremely forthright about software updates for its products, something that is huge in the world of Google's Android.

Today is just another example of that as the company has delivered a firmware update to its Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet, mere days after announcing it.

A couple of days ago, in a Facebook post, Asus teased an upcoming update for its quad-core tablet that promised “new awesome features.”

Asus allowed to keep 'Transformer Prime' name according to Court ruling - Hasbro not happy

In a court ruling that reads at times like a pop culture or consumer gadget review, an US federal judge gave tablet maker Asus a green light to sell its “Transformer” tablets.

Hasbro filed a lawsuit against Asus late last year that claimed the Transformer Prime would lead to confusion with its popular toy robots.
As the judge explained:

“The Autobots are led by the virtuous Optimus Prime character, while the Decepticons follow the powerful Megatron. According to Hasbro, Optimus Prime is intended to epitomize honor, duty, leadership, and freedom.”

Hasbro tried to persuade the court that consumers would believe the Asus tablets were connected to the toy franchise.
The company pointed out that its transformer toy decal had been used on products like USB storage drives, computer mouses, skins for laptops, speaker heads and iPod docks.

Computex 2012 will focus on Cloud technology, ultrabooks and Windows 8

The world's second largest computer trade show, Computex 2012, has been announced, with a focus on mobile computing high on the agenda.

June is fast approaching, which means the 32^nd outing of the world’s second largest ICT tradeshow, Computex.
Held every year in Taipei, Taiwan, the show will run this year from the 5^th until the 9^th of June 2012, during which an expected 120,000 people will attend and US$28 billion worth of business will be done.

Last week, TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) and the Taipei Computer Association held a press conference to announce what was in store for this year’s event.
The focus will be on four major categories – Ultrabooks, Handhelds, eReading and Cloud technology & Services.

Everyone seems to be expecting Windows 8 like it is the new messiah

Dell strongly thinks it can make a buck off Windows 8 tablets, despite the fact that it pretty much abandoned its Google's Android tablets last year.

Dell's Chief Commercial Officer Steve Felice said that he thinks disaffection with Apple's iPads by corporate IT departments creates an opportunity to sell mobile devices that run on Windows - something they are familiar with.

"On the commercial side there are a lot of concerns about security, interoperability, systems and device management, and I think Dell is in the best position to meet those," Felice saiys.

In addition to taking a run at Microsoft's Windows 8, Dell may also fire up its Android tablets again, but that is to be seen.

US government is reconsidering electronic devices usage ban during aircraft's take-off and landing

The United States government is taking a tentative step toward making it easier for airlines to allow passengers to use personal electronic devices such as tablets, eReaders and music players during takeoffs and landings.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said last week it is “exploring ways to bring together all of the key stakeholders involved” – including airlines, aircraft manufacturers, consumer electronics makers, and flight attendant unions – to discuss whether there are practical ways to test devices to see if they are safe for passengers to use during critical phases of flight.

Technically, FAA rules already permit any airline to test specific makes and models to determine if they generate enough power that they could interfere with sensitive cockpit radios, navigation instruments and other critical equipment.

Windows 8 to allow manufacturers to develop devices with 'Retina Display'-like screens

Windows 8 specs include displays that are even sharper than Apple's fabled Retina Display, which Apple claims is as clear as the human eye is capable of seeing.

Microsoft's newest Operating System (OS) supports a 10.1" tablet screen with 291 pixels per inch resolution, the company says in its Building Windows 8 blog.
That compares to the new iPad with 265 ppi.

But because Microsoft doesn't build its own hardware, it doesn't demand that tablet screens or any other screen meet a single requirement as Apple can with the iPad.

As a result, Windows 8 calls for three standard scaling percentages that ensure applications written for the Operating System are functional and attractive no matter what size screen they are on, so long as they meet the minimum display specs, according to the blog, written by David Washington, a Senior Program Manager on the Windows user-experience team.

Windows Phone and Windows 8 put back Microsoft high on the map

Two star hires and a well-reviewed phone (Windows Phone 7) and tablet (Windows 8) Operating Systems (OS) do not necessarily remake a company, but they do ease the perception — prevalent in recent years — that Microsoft is on its last legs.

There appears to be a big change in that perception compared to last year when there were public calls based on Microsoft’s sluggish stock performance,  for CEO Steve Ballmer to step down.

Several attendees at this week’s Structure: Data 2012 conference seemed newly bullish on Microsoft’s prospects.

Check out the six reasons why after the break.

Microsoft expects Windows 8 to be finalized this summer and the first devices hit the market in October

Microsoft will finish work on Windows 8 this summer, setting the stage for personal computers and tablets with the Operating System (OS) to go on sale around October, according to people with knowledge of the schedule.

The initial rollout will include devices running Intel and ARM chips, making good on Microsoft’s promise to support both standards, said the people, who declined to be named because the plans are confidential.
In embracing ARM technology, Microsoft is using the same kind of processors as Apple’s iPad.

Still, there will be fewer than five ARM devices in the debut, compared with more than 40 Intel machines.

Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview detailed review

 

We've been waiting to write about the Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview, wondering if over time, the new User Interface (UI) would grow on us. 

Now that we have spent the past couple of weeks trying it on a variety of machines, we still think the Metro UI looks quite good on a tablet. 

The Operating System (OS) as a whole, however, is a bit awkward on a laptop and even worse on a desktop.

Microsoft has said that Windows 8 aims to be a "no compromise" Operating System, focused on "and" instead of "or" — not a touch screen or a mouse and keyboard, but both together. 
It sounds great, but as we use it, we're not quite convinced. 

It's certainly improved since the developer preview.
You can now use it successfully on a desktop or notebook, but we're not sure why a typical desktop or notebook user with Windows 7 would upgrade to Windows 8.

Check out our detailed review of Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview after the break.

The border line between laptops and tablets is less and less clear

 

As tablets become more popular among consumers, our functionality requirements also increase.

The rise of this sector contributes to the blurring of the lines between notebooks and tablets, says NPD's Ross Rubin. 

Things will only get murkier when Microsoft' Windows 8 releases later this year, its Metro interface built with touchscreen interfaces in mind.

NPD and Rubin see the entire industry encroaching on one another's turf.

Google's Android has found its way onto dual-boot devices like ViewSonic's Viewpad tablet.
On the flipside, Windows 8 makes it enticing for manufacturers to add tablet-like features as the Operating System (OS) was built with mobility in mind.

Windows 8 might be able to run Windows Phone apps

 

In an interesting but not unexpected twist, it looks like Microsoft might allow Windows 8 to run all 70,000+ Windows Phone 7 apps, and possibly all Windows Phone 8 apps as well.

The rumor stems from I’m A WP7, an app that helpfully reports the version numbers of Operating Systems (OS) that run the app. 

As you can see in the image after the break, the first two entries are for Windows Phone 7, but at the bottom it reports that “Windows 8.0 Desktop” version 6.2.8283.0 also uses the app.
The current public build of Windows 8, the Consumer Preview, is 6.2.8250.0 — a lower version number — so it would seem that Microsoft is trying out Windows Phone 7 apps on internal builds of Windows 8.

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 700 Android tablet preview

 

The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 700 is the next stage in the evolution of the Transformer Prime, offering an improved screen, physical improvements to avoid GPS issues and a slightly altered name. 

It will be coming in 3G and WiFi versions, which annoyingly offer different processors -- the 3G version is dual-core and the WiFi quad-core. 

There's no word on pricing yet, but we don't expect it to cost any less than than the €600 (US$785) asking price of the Prime, so prepare to shell out a fair chunk of cash.

We went hands-on with the Infinity at recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, so stay tuned for a full review soon.

 Design

In terms of looks, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 700 doesn't deviate much from the original Transformer Prime blueprint, which we're pretty pleased about.
The Prime managed to look supremely sleek while also being sturdy enough to beat someone half to death with!

Sick PC market will revive thanks to Windows 8 on ultrabooks - Report

 

The outlook for PC sales in 2012 looks poor, with only 4.4% growth, due in large parts to competition from tablets, says research firm Gartner.

If there's any light at all, it won't be until 2013, when Microsoft's Windows 8 on ultrabooks may goose sales.

Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner, in a new report warns that:

"PC shipments will remain weak in 2012. PCs will face more competition as we see new media tablets based on operating systems from Android and Microsoft, as well the new iPad."

Those weak sales are a result not just of tablet popularity, but because consumers will increasingly turn to cloud-based services and storage.

We spend too much time staring at screens of all sizes and shapes - Doctors

 

Ever since Apple launched the third generation model for their popular tablet, everyone's talking iPad.

But, not everyone's going gaga over the new devices, especially eye doctors.

iPads, much like any computer or smartphone screen you stare at for awhile, might contribute to "computer vision syndrome," a set of eye problems caused by staring at a screen for long periods of time without taking a break.

According to the American Optometric Association, symptoms of computer vision syndrome include eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision and dry eyes.
And many of us may already have the syndrome and not even realize it.

'How [you] bring the tablet plus laptop together' is what the ultrabook is all about - Intel

As the sales of personal computers slow — whether because of a weak world economy or the popularity of the Apple's iPad — PC makers have been looking for the next big thing to jolt buyers and increase profit margins.

They are doing what they have done so many times before: 

Taking a sidelong glance at what Apple has done.

They have reason to take notice.
Data from the research firms IDC and Gartner shows that the PC shipments of Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Acer, two of the world’s largest PC makers, declined in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with the same period a year ago.
Shipments by Apple, on the other hand, rose roughly 20% in that quarter, according to estimates from both research firms.

Microsoft last CES keynote mostly goes down memory lane

Microsoft's final Consumer Electronics Show (CES) keynote was short on news but long on flashiness -- complete with a gospel choir, Cookie Monster, Ryan Seacrest and an Auto-Tuned Bill Gates.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer kicked off the Las Vegas trade show Monday night with a keynote speech, as he has done for the past three years. 

It's a role he inherited from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who gave almost a dozen CES talks over the past two decades.

Asus unveils upgraded Transformer Prime with better display, front camera and GPS, WiFi fixed - at a cost

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer and the newer Eee Pad Transformer Prime are often considered the best Google's Android tablets on the market and the most likely to be able to compete with Apple and its iPad in 2012.  

At CES 2012, Asus is unveiling a new version of the Transformer Prime with the TF700T suffix that adds a couple of really nice features including a high-resolution 1920x1200 screen and a new 2.0 MP front camera for HD video conferencing. 
These replace a 1280x800 resolution screen and a 1.3 MP front camera.

Lenovo unveils the IdeaPad S2 Android Ice Cream Sandwich tablet/netbook

When Lenovo launched its first consumer tablet, the IdeaPad K1, last summer, we were impressed with the device’s attractive design and unique User Interface (UI) enchancements.

But, at the same time, we were a little disappointed in its thick frame and relatively heavy 725 grams weight.

It looks like Lenovo has taken these concerns to heart, because yesterday the company announced the IdeaTab S2, a svelte successor to the K1 which weighs just 576 grams and measures a mere 0.86cm thick.

It is also the first Lenovo tablet to come with Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.