Tag Archives: tablet

Netflix Isn’t Against Offline Viewing

Posted on by Gareth Andrews
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Netflix is a huge company, with price increases to help cover the increased traffic that people use with the HD streaming experience. In a recent call though Netflix may look at helping you watch those movies on the go while avoiding the data usage costs that come with offline viewing.

CEO Reed Hastings responded to questions about the possibility of letting its subscribers watch shows offline by saying that they would “keep an open mind on all this”. Part of the reason Hastings gives for this open approach is the “uneven set of networks” that Netflix is noticing as they expand to new areas of the world.

With Netflix’s Chief Product Officer, Neil Hunt, stating last year that they wouldn’t add the feature thanks to the “complexity [it brings] to your life”, directly followed by “with Amazon Prime”. Amazon Prime lets you download and stream shows, and with a new pricing model offering monthly subscriptions, Netflix may be changing their tone to help fight off the competition in the media streaming market.

With services like Sky Go, Amazon Prime and even BBC’s iPlayer letting you watch content offline, Netflix is one of the few services that doesn’t offer offline viewing, something that can often put people on or off services when their internet cuts out mid-show.

PiPO KB2 – A Folding Keyboard That’s Also Windows 10 PC!

Posted on by Gareth Andrews
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People love small computers, the ability to sit and use your smartphone or a tablet to play games or write an essay while you wait for the bus or your order at a restaurant. So what about if you got a computer you could fold into your pocket? that’s the idea behind the PiPO KB2, one of a new series of PC’s hidden with keyboards.

The PiPO keyboards will be released in two batches, starting with the KB1’s which will be released soon. If you’re interested the KB1 will feature an Intel Atom x5-Z8300 (also known as a Cherry Trail) processor and  either 32GB or 64GB of memory to back up the 4GB Ram. If you didn’t want to spend so much, you could grab a KB1 with an Intel Atom Z3736F or Z3735 processor (from the Bay Trail series) with 2GB of RAM. With 2 USB ports, an ethernet port, microSD slot, a VGA connector and an HDMI port the inbuilt speakers, battery and touchpad are rounded off with Wi-FI and a battery.

If you want something a little more pocketable, you could wait until September and get the KB2 featuring the same storage options of 2/4GB of RAM, 32/64GB of storage and even the same Cherry Trail processor as the KB1 model. Going with the upgrade, the KB2 will feature a USB 3.0port, a micro USB port, and Bluetooth. For the added bonus of being able to fold and pocket the keyboard PC, you lose the touchpad, something which I’m sure people will compensate with their own travel mice.

With both devices running Windows 10, are you interested in being able to carry around a pocket PC to plug into your friend’s TV or do you think that you’ll stick with your laptop and tablets for now?

TSA Spent $47,000 on a Random Lane Picker

Posted on by Gareth Andrews
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Governments and companies often contract out work to help create app’s and software to make systems. The problem is that the app’s and software comes at a price, it would now seem that the TSA spent quite a bit on a random lane picker.

It’s being reported that the TSA spent $47,400 on a piece of software that would help TSA staff pick lanes to separate and ease up congestion at Airport terminals, as shown in the video below.

The information comes as part of a freedom of information request revealed by Kevin Burke, revealing a contract with IBM totaling $336,413.59. Included in this documentation was a document relating to “randomizer software”.

The deal could have included more than just the software, with the iPad’s and tablets used for the software possibly also included in the deal. People are hoping this is the case, with the software being considered entry-level programming. The app itself was a random number generator, assigning people to the right or left lane (1 or 2) at airport security.

It’s got to be embarrassing that such a simple piece of software would come at such a high cost, all while governments are being scrutinized for their spending, higher taxes and budget cuts. The app is no longer in use, with the process of being randomly allocated lanes also being removed from their processes.

Minecraft Command Blocks Coming to Mobile and Windows 10

Posted on by Gareth Andrews
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Minecraft is a popular block-based game, featuring everything from building a little house to designing a giant industry. With the desktop version featuring a variety of features beyond what Minecraft for mobile and Windows 10 offer, people are often left waiting for more. Some of those additional features will soon be coming to mobile and Windows 10.

One of the additional features that will soon be coming to Minecraft includes command blocks. Command blocks let you perform a variety of abilities, from changing the weather to teleporting all with a forward slash from the chat window and a little programming experience.

Players on the desktop version enjoy the flexibility to include custom mods to their gaming experience, yet another one of the features that will soon come to the mobile versions of Minecraft. With schools looking forward to the creation of Microsoft Edu, a version of the game built for schools to help teach everything from teamwork to programming, the ability to add mods and additional content to their versions could let you go from teaching programming to simulating chemical reactions or exploring ancient civilizations all from the classroom.

Do you play Minecraft? What platform do you play the game on and do you play it with any mods? Share with us your biggest creation in the comments below.

Welcome The First Ubuntu Tablet

Posted on by Gareth Andrews
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When it comes to tablets people are often faced with the decisions between Windows and iOS operating systems, but that could soon be coming to an end with the first official Ubuntu tablet coming soon.

The Aquarius M10 is the first official tablet that will run Ubuntu, the open source Linux-based operating system. Costing you €259 (around £203) for the HD version of the tablet or for a mere extra 40 euros at €299 (around £235) you can grab the full HD variation of the tablet. Featuring a 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek processor and 1,280 x 800 display for the HD model or a 1.5GHz processor and 1,920 x 1,200 on the Full HD model, the tablets contain relatively common numbers for the modern market.

With 2GB of Ram, 16GB of expandable storage and 8-megapixel and 5-megapixels on the back and front of the tablet respectively it is a perfect little starter for tablets. The key point is that using Canonical’s open source software, the device will switch to a desktop PC when connected to a mouse, keyboard and external screen. Carry round computer anyone?

The device is slated for release in the second week of April and we are sure that some people reading will be more than interested in these tablets.

CTL Reveals Rugged Flip Convertible Chromebook

Posted on by Cernescu Andrei
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CTL has revealed its J5 Rugged Convertible Chromebook, and just like its name suggests, this device was designed with durability in mind. That’s why it features a drop-resistant body as well as a splash-resistant keyboard, which makes it ideal for school use. Naturally, professionals who usually work in rugged environments might also want to consider buying this gadget especially since it offers the versatility of a Chromebook as well as the portability of a tablet. Thanks to a 360-degree hinge, the user can choose to use the regular keyboard in “laptop mode” or to fold it completely and angle the screen back for presentation purposes.

Apparently, this Chromebook can also be transformed into a tablet by rotating its screen all the way around, and there’s even an optional stylus available. The IPS panel screen measures 11.6” and offers a resolution of 1366 x 768. The device is powered by an Intel Braswell N3050 processor complemented by 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM. Moreover, the 16GB eMMC hard drive is expandable to 32GB while the connectivity options include one Micro SD card slot, one HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports and one combo audio jack. The operating system is Chrome OS, obviously, and the battery can last up to 10 hours.

The CTL J5 Rugged Convertible Chromebook features a price tag of $249.00, and it is currently available for pre-order.

Apple Releases New 9.7 inch iPad Pro

Posted on by Samuel Wan
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While we were expecting a new iPad to be revealed at Apple’s event, the new iPad Pro was not what we expected. Coming in at 9.7 inches, the new tablet will supplement the current 12.9-inch model. As an iPad Pro, the new release combines some of the features of the new iPad series with the slimness and form factor of traditional iPads.

At 0.24 inches, it is as thin as the iPad Air 2 and has pretty much the same dimensions, sporting a similar 9.7-inch, 2048×1536 resolution screen. The screen is an improved True Tone model though and boasts a 25% increase in maximum brightness as well. Compared to the old iPad Pro, the new release has the same Apple Pencil support and 4 speaker array. The processor remains the same with the A9X.

In terms of upgrades, the most notable are the cameras which get bumped to 12MP for the rear with 4K video recording while the front FaceTime camera goes up to 5MP with a Retina-display flash. Storage options are also expanded with a 256GB option, a move the 12.9-inch model also mirrors. Of course, a 9.7-inch Smart Keyboard and a host of Lightning accessories are available. Pricing comes from $599 for the 32GB model up to $899 for the 256GB one. Prices for the rest of the entire iPad lineup will be falling as well.

AMD Open to Making Mobile GPUs

Posted on by Samuel Wan
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Looking back, AMD missed a big opportunity to get into the mobile phone and tablet market. According to Raja Koduri, SVP for RTG, AMD may be contemplating getting back into the mobile graphics market, provided the circumstances are right.

Originally a part of ATI, the mobile graphics division, Imageon was acquired by AMD along with the parent company. After running into severe financial hardship, AMD decided to sell the mobile division off to Qualcomm which renamed it Adreno, an anagram of Radeon. Combined with their custom ARM CPUs, Qualcomm has managed to become the largest mobile SoC vendor, putting Adreno into millions of devices. The only other major competitors are Imagination and Mali from ARM itself.

By considering the mobile GPU market if the right customer comes by, AMD is opening yet another market for them to enter. Right now, Adreno is still largely based on the VLIW architecture that ATI and AMD left in 2011. GCN, on the other hand, is a more complex and advanced architecture with arguably better performance per watt. With the rise of GPU based compute being used in gaming, GCN may be a potent force in tablets.

Seeking more custom chip customers makes sense of AMD given that their consoles deals are helping keep the firm afloat as other sources of revenue are dropping. There is a large measure of risk however as Nvidia has demonstrated with their flagging Tegra lineup. By securing a customer first, AMD can pass on the risk and run a much safer course. Perhaps, the next PSP or DS will be running GCN.

Google Release Developer Preview of Android N

Posted on by Alexander Neil
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In a move surprising many, today Google revealed they would be unveiling Android N to the public very, very early as a developer preview. This Android preview build is even easier to install on devices than ever before too, with supported devices allowing users to opt-in to the new Android Beta Program that would allow them to install the Android N preview like a regular update, and receive iterative updates via OTA. Currently, devices supported by the Android Beta Program include the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Nexus 9, and Pixel C, with Android N also available on the official Android emulator.

While this brand new build of Android touts an array of new features, the most attractive being the new multi-window mode, allowing users to take better advantage of the screen real-estate that modern devices possess. The function works in both portrait and landscape screen orientations, as well as providing an array of options as to how multi-windows should be handled, including the choice of a TV-like picture-in-picture mode aimed at use with video apps.

Other additions to Android in this version include direct reply notifications, allowing users to respond to messages conveniently from the notification, and the option for all notifications from a single app to be bundled together and viewed individually using gestures. Also included is improved efficiency through a new version of Marshmallow Doze to save battery and numerous tweaks behind the scenes to optimize memory usage and the speed of background processes. Developers will also be able to make use of new Java 8 features from Android N onwards.

This is still a very early build of Android N, so it is obviously not advisable to use this on an everyday device, with Google releasing it so early in order to collect developer feedback earlier than usual and allow for an easier handoff of the full version to device manufacturers by summer. Hopefully, these moves by Google will result in an even better version of Android than ever.

Amazon to Restore FireOS Encryption in Spring

Posted on by Alexander Neil
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Just one day after it was discovered that Amazon had stripped the option to use encryption on devices powered by their FireOS 5 operating system, Amazon has announced that the feature will be returning in a software update “coming this spring.” Originally Amazon had reported that they had removed the feature due to lack of usage, however, the issue became big news with the current debates raging on over the subject.

Fire OS 5 has lacked encryption since its release in the autumn of 2015, however due to how quietly it was removed, the change was only noticed when the rollout of the OS to older devices took place. This removed the option of encryption even on devices that had originally shipped with the feature from an older version of Fire OS. As expected, this news did not go down well with many consumers, especially the most security conscious users, many seeing it as them giving up the fight for encryption and privacy before it had even begun for them.

Amazon re-adding encryption to Fire OS 5 is hardly surprising. The backlash against disabling the feature on any device using the OS could cost them both in reputation and profits. Also, as the feature was removed before the FBI/Apple encryption battle began, there was far less attention to its presence, which has now become an issue considered in the tech community worldwide.

For many, the lack of encryption would have been a deal-breaker in the purchase of their products. Are you glad to see Amazon reversing their course on the topic, or would you have bought an Amazon tablet regardless?

The Benefits of a High Spec Tablet

Posted on by Peter Donnell
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Over recent years, technology has come a very long way and amongst the high tech devices and gadgets now available to us are tablets. These smart devices have helped to revolutionise our lives and they are used for all sorts of purposes from business and entertainment through to research, browsing, shopping and more. The size of the average tablet makes it perfect for using while on the go, at work or while on holiday, which is why these devices have become so popular over the past few years.

If you are investing in a tablet, it is well worth looking for a high spec one that offers a range of features. This is because tablets are so versatile that they can be used for all sorts of purposes and the better the spec of your tablet the more enhances your user experience will be. If you use your tablet for entertainment such as streaming movies or playing online casino games at places such as Betway, it is particularly useful to opt for a higher spec one, as you can enjoy better graphics, better speed, and a far more pleasurable entertainment experience.

Choosing the right tablet

The specs of a tablet will help to determine its suitability based on what you plan to use it for. If, for instance, you only want the tablet for browsing and basic use, you can opt for a lower priced one rather than going for very high specs. However, these days many people want to use their tablets to enjoy entertainment. This could be anything from watching movies via streaming sites through to playing virtual slot and table games at a casino site such as Betway, where you can benefit from a great variety of exciting games. This type of entertainment can be made all the more enjoyable if you have a high quality tablet designed to enhance your experience.

Tablets come with a range of screen sizes these days, and opting for a larger screen means that you can make the most of entertainment such as movies and gaming when you are on your tablet. You should also look for a tablet that offers high quality graphics, as this is an important part of the entertainment experience on these devices. Remember, the higher resolution tablets will give far sharper and clearer images, so make sure you go for a high res tablet if you plan to use your device for entertainment purposes.

Tablets these days often come with advanced processors, which means that you can look forward to faster speeds when you are using the device. This is great news if you are using your tablet for entertainment, as the last thing you want when watching movies or playing games is for the screen to continuously freeze or for the site to take forever to load. Again, going for a high spec tablet from a reputable manufacturer will enable you to benefit from faster speeds as well as better graphics.

Surface Book Launches in the UK

Posted on by Gareth Andrews
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Microsoft is probably most well-known for their software, with everything from the Windows operating system to the Office tool suite commonplace in homes around the world. One thing that Microsoft have been keen on expanding though is their hardware. With the success of the Microsoft Surface, a tablet that featured a magnetically docked keyboard and was well-known for its high power and low profile. Now the next phase in Microsoft hardware has been unleashed in the UK in the form of the Surface book.

The Surface Book was announced half way through last year, with Microsoft creating a system for people to swap out their Macbook’s for a Surface book, with claims that it would be twice as powerful as a Macbook Pro. Surprisingly this didn’t go down too well with Tom Cook over at Apple who then described the Surface Book as deluded.

The new Surface Book will set you back, at least, £1,299 if you are looking at an i5 model  but upgrading it to the top of the line will set you back £2,249 for an i7 and dedicated NVIDIA graphics (rumoured to be NVIDIA’s 940M).

Are you interested in the Surface Book? For the price tag is the 13.5 inch screen a little too small for your taste? If you are looking at buying one you can find out more at the Microsoft store.

Watch Movies Home Alone with the Cardboard Home Cinema

Posted on by Ashley Allen
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Are you tired of visiting the cinema, only to find that your experience is marred by babbling mouth breathers, rustling sweet wrappers, and lit-up smartphones, and too cheap to buy a home cinema system? Don’t despair, because Firebox has developed a private home cinema, free from extraneous distraction, that will only cost you £24.99.

The Cardboard Home Cinema. It’s a box with a couple of holes cut in it.

As the Firebox product description puts it: “for the paltry cost of a couple of movie tickets this immersive cinematic experience can be yours. Made from super rugged cardboard, it arrives flat-packed and can be quickly assembled in a matter of minutes. Your smartphone/tablet sits atop the box and plays your movie of choice while you lay down beneath it. The height of the box is easily adjusted so that your eyes are a comfortable distance from the screen (e.g. lower for an iPhone, higher for an iPad).”

While the Cardboard Home Cinema is a novel idea, its £24.99 price feels excessive, especially since it’s made from cardboard. I’ve got some old boxes in my spare room that I could use to construct the IMAX equivalent for less than the price of a box of Poppets.

ASUS Strix 2.0 Multi-Platform Gaming Headset Review

Posted on by Peter Donnell
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Introduction

It’s been almost a year since we put the feature-packed ASUS STRIX DSP Gaming Headset through its paces, and it certainly did well in our review. The latest from ASUS, the STRIX 2.0 may not have as many features as its big brother, but with a more affordable price and multi-format support, it’s certainly an attractive option for those looking for a new gaming headset, so we’re eager to see what it can do.

Picking the right headset can make or break your gaming experience, not to mention they can also be great for general multimedia use. The STRIX 2.0 is equipped with support for PC/MAC, mobile devices and PlayStation 4, although in all fairness it’s also widely compatible with a lot of things, so long as the have a 3.5mm jack. It’s certainly great if you game on multiple devices, and this setup could save you money as you wouldn’t need to buy multiple headsets.

“STRIX 2.0 is powered by 60 mm neodymium-magnet drivers to deliver punchy, high-fidelity sound. In addition to providing fantastic gaming audio, STRIX 2.0 is a great way to enjoy listening to music. Connect STRIX 2.0 to your desktop, laptop, PS4 or smart device and experience superb sound with brilliant details and punchy bass from games, music, and more.”

The hardware certainly seems promising, with a pair of powerful 60mm neodymium drivers, which are quite simply massive for any headset, so I’m expecting some good bass performance here. There’s also a uni-directional boom microphone, which is also fully detachable should you not need it.

The packaging for the STRIX 2.0 is absolutely massive, the box looks big enough to house two of these headsets. There’s a large window section showing off one of the ear cups of the headset, as well as a few major specifications dotted on the front of the packaging.

Around the back, more details about the 60mm drivers, dual microphones and cross-platform support.

In the box, you’ll find the quick start guide, warranty information, a detachable boom microphone, as well as some good quality braided adaptor cables for PC and mobile devices.

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Mad Catz Announces TRITTON Katana HD 7.1 Wireless Headset

Posted on by Bohs Hansen
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Mad Catz didn’t just have a new mouse to present us today, they’re also ready with a new headset under the TRITTON brand. The new headset is called the Katana and it is a HD 7.1 Wireless headset, but it isn’t an ordinary one. The Katana is the world’s first headset to draw its audio signal directly through HDMI to deliver eight channels of uncompressed sound for pure high-definition audio quality. With near-universal compatibility across gaming consoles, PCs and smart devices, the Katana HD features state-of-the-art DTS Headphone:X audio technology that faithfully recreates the spatially accurate immersive sound experience from your favorite game.

The TRITTON Katana is the new flagship headset and comes with a flagship pricetag too. It can currently be pre-ordered for $249 and is expected to ship during December 2015.

The headset itself features 50 mm drivers and crystal clear interference-free chat through an omnidirectional boom mic. The earpieces feature intuitive controls to control your audio, mute the mic, tweak the volume or change the EQ settings. The drivers have a frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz and the microphone has a frequency response from 20Hz to 5kHz.

Along with the Katana HD 7.1 Wireless Headset and the omnidirectional boom mic, you also get the heart of the operation, the headset nase station with a 1 meter long USB to Micro USB Power Cable. The HDMI pass through is truly a great idea and one that makes the setup a lot easier. No need to worry about multiple audio devices any more.

A 1 meter HDMI cable is also included as you’ll need one extra when using pass through than without. Mad Catz also added a USB to Micro USB headset play-and-charge cable that is 1.5m long and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm chat cable for Xbox One users. No matter what platform you’re using, you’ll be able to use the TRITTON Katana HD Wireless Headset.

 

Specifications

  • Wireless Range: 33ft (10m)
  • HDMI with Full Pass-Through
  • Driver Size: 50mm
  • Headset Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
  • Microphone Frequency Response: 20Hz – 5kHz
  • Battery Type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
  • Battery Life: 20 Hours

The Katana headset is available in black and orange as well as white and orange version.

Tim Cook Describes Microsoft’s Surface Book as ‘Deluded’

Posted on by John Williamson
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Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook appears to be on the warpath of late and becoming quite outspoken about the PC platform and Microsoft’s hardware endeavors. Only yesterday, he described PCs as ‘pointless’ and an outdated premise compared to the iPad Pro. There’s a huge sense of irony here as the term PC refers to computer hardware, and Apple’s role involves creating their own operating system for heavily restricted PCs. These remarks have made Tim Cook look extremely foolish, and I cannot understand his bizarre thought process.

Microsoft’s Surface Book is certainly one of the most impressive hardware reveals I’ve seen for some time. However, Tim Cook disagrees and made some fairly disparaging remarks about the device during an appearance at an Irish college. He criticized the product and said:

“It’s a product that tries too hard to do too much,”

“It’s trying to be a tablet and a notebook and it really succeeds at being neither. It’s sort of deluded.”

For all Apple’s posturing about their “really good” relationship with Microsoft, Tim Cook isn’t speaking on amicable terms and behaving in an appalling manner. It’s hilarious to think the iPad Pro is a different, more streamlined device than the Surface Book. If anything, the Surface Book has even more potential and I believe it’s probably the best piece of hardware Microsoft has designed. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on with Apple and Tim Cook, but it seems the company’s aggressive attitude is coming to the forefront.

Turtle Beach Ear Force PX24 Multi-Format Gaming Headset Review

Posted on by Peter Donnell
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Introduction

The latest headset from Turtle Beach is here at last! The market may be packed with brands and products right now, but from a consumer perspective, it never hurts to have more choice. The PX24 is certainly an appealing product, not only because it comes from a well-known brand name, but because it promises exceptional value for money that simply cannot be ignored.

“The Ear Force ® PX24 is a multiplatform gaming headset featuring Turtle Beach’s innovative Ear Force SuperAmp battery powered in-line amplifier which delivers amazing audio from all devices.”

With a feature packed in-line controller, audio processing, multi-format support and so much more, you would expect this headset to be quite expensive, but it’s actually a perfectly reasonable £69.99, so colour me very interested, let’s see what this headset can do!

There’s a great range of features on offer here, especially the multi-format support and the Ear Force SuperAmp.

  • Multiplatform compatible with the PlayStation®4, Xbox One, PC, Mac and mobile/tablet devices with a universal 3.5mm jack
  • The innovative Ear Force SuperAmp battery powered in-line amplifier offers fingertip control and amazing amplified sound from any device
  • Experience Turtle Beach Virtual Surround Sound on PlayStation®4, Xbox One and mobile/tablet devices
  • Superhuman Hearing audio preset gives players the competitive advantage of hearing enemies before they come into view
  • Variable Bass Boost enhances powerful rumbling lows
  • Variable Mic Monitoring lets you hear your own voice in the headset to avoid shouting
  • Large, high-performance 50mm Neodymium speakers deliver Immersive audio
  • Adjustable, high-sensitivity boom mic picks-up your voice loud and clear
  • Lightweight design and mesh ear-cups for hours of comfort

On the front of the box, we’ve got a stylish image of the headset, as well as a picture of the SuperAmp; you’ll also find a quick rundown of the major features and device support.

Around the back, a more detailed look at the PowerAmp, it’s a rechargeable device and can operate for up to 30 hours on a single charge, or simply be powered via USB cable if you need to. That much will depend on which device you’re trying to use the PowerAmp with; mobile device will use battery mode PC can use USB power.

In the box, you’ll find the usual assortment of documentation, the USB to Micro USB charging cable for the PowerAmp and the PowerAmp unit its self.

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Panasonic Releases 20-Inch Sized 4K Toughpad Tablet

Posted on by Bohs Hansen
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When it comes down to it, a tablet is really just a laptop without a keyboard and a laptop is just an all-in-one PC with a battery. With that in mind, there is no reason why a tablet shouldn’t come in big sizes and with big power. Panasonic’s new Toughpad FZ-Y1 is both a large one and a powerful one that shouldn’t be discarded for going out of the norm.

The new Toughpad is designed for CAD designers among others and it is ready for one of the market-leading apps in this area, Solidworks. To back such a need, the Touchpad FZ-Y1 features a 5th generation Intel Core i7-5600U vPro processor with 2.6GHz base clock and a 3.2GHz Turbo. It is paired with an AMD FirePro M5100 graphics card and 16GB RAM. The storage space starts with a 256GB SSD and an optional 512GB upgrade is also available.

The display is a 20-inch IPS multi-touch that can recognize up to 10 fingers simultaneously and display 3840 x 2560 pixels. The 230 ppi and 15:10 aspect ratio should make the Toughpad tablet ideal for viewing and working with A3 size plans and designs. Touch isn’t always the most precise input and you can also get the optional Electronic Touch Pen that offers the ability to draw and make free-hand notes on the device with the freedom and creativity of pen and paper.

The Toughpad FZ-Y1 has plenty of connection options with USB 3.0, Gigabit LAN, HDMI 2.0 INPUT (support HDCP2.2), Mini DisplayPortTM Output and Docking connector. It naturally also features wireless connectivity through Bluetooth and WLAN and comes with a built-in HD Webcam, microphone, and speakers. The installed OS is Windows 10 that optionally can be downgraded to Windows 7 professional, allowing more people to integrate it into their current business infrastructure.

You might already have guessed that such a tablet won’t come cheap, and you are absolutely right here. The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-Y1 starts at £3180 without VAT and it will be available at the end of December this year.

Google Could be Building Its Own Processors

Posted on by Ashley Allen
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Reports suggest that Google will soon start building its own processors. While the Cupertino company has long relied on other vendors for its chips, with the new Google Pixel C tablet, set for release later this year, running on an NVIDIA Tegra X1, a new job posting for the Mountain View, California Pixel C team shows Google are searching for a Multimedia Chip Architect. The Pixel C is described by Google CEO Sundar Pichai as the “first Android tablet built end-to-end by Google.”

According to the job posting, the responsibilities for the Multimedia Chip Architect will be:

  • Propose chip architecture based on product requirements
  • Prototype design in FPGA or simulator
  • Evaluate performance of various performance algorithms
  • Lead a chip development effort
  • Work with other engineers to take chip to product shipment

“Normally, I wouldn’t read too much into a job posting because often system designers need people with chip-level expertise,” chip analyst Jim McGregor told Business Insider. “However, with the trend towards vertical integration, especially at Microsoft and Apple, it wouldn’t surprise me if Google developed their own chips, especially for Android productivity tablets to compete with the Surface Pro and iPad Pro.”

Google has declined to comment on the job posting or any potential plans to build its own processors.

Image courtesy of TechRadar.

Lenovo Unveils Yoga 900 Convertible Laptop

Posted on by John Williamson
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Lenovo has announced the Yoga 900 which is officially the word’s thinnest Intel Core i-series convertible laptop and features a gorgeous watchband hinge. This 13.3-inch device opts for a 3200×1800 IPS display with wide viewing angles and impeccable colour reproduction. Additionally, the JBL speakers offer superb sound quality despite the Yoga’s ultra-thin 14.9mm frame. On another note, the Yoga 900 contains 50 percent improved battery density compared to the previous generation and provides up to nine hours of local video playback. As a result, the portable design and hefty battery makes it the perfect choice for watching films on long flights.

The Yoga 900 also incorporates an incredibly high specification including a Samsung SSD and memory capacity up to 16GB. Lenovo even improved the cooling system by a substantial 30 percent which enhances the user-experience. There are many high-end options on the market to suit business customers who require a portable device, but the Lenovo 900 looks the most impressive.

In terms of pricing, the base model costs $1,199.99 and comes in a variety of colours. This includes clementine orange, platinum silver and champagne gold. From an aesthetics standpoint, the Yoga 900 is beautiful and I would love to have one to use during press conferences. Although, it is well out of my price-range.

1TB Microsoft Surface Book Costs a Whopping $3,199

Posted on by Ashley Allen
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Following the release of the 512GB SSD iteration of its new Surface Book tablet/laptop hybrid, Microsoft boasted that it was a 1TB version would soon be en route. Indeed, the higher-storage model is now available for pre-order from the Microsoft Store, but it’ll cost you an outrageous $3,199.

While the 1TB Surface Book also includes 16GB RAM and a Core i7 processor, the $500 difference between that and the 512GB model seems steep.

According to the Microsoft Store, this is what you’ll get for your money:

Tech Specs

Software Windows 10 Pro • Office 30-day trial
Exterior Casing: Magnesium • Color: Silver • Physical buttons: Volume, Power
Dimensions Laptop: 9.14 x 12.30 x 0.51- 0.90 in ( 232.1 x 312.3 x 13 -22.8 mm)
Clipboard: 8.67 x 12.30 x 0.30 in (220.2 x 312.3 x 7.7 mm)
Weight 3.48 pounds (1576 grams)
Storage3 Solid state drive (SSD) 1TB
Display Screen: 13.5” PixelSense display • Resolution: 3000 x 2000 (267 PPI) • Aspect ratio: 3:2 • Touch: 10 point multi-touch
Battery Life Up to 12 hours of video playback1
Processor 6th Gen Intel Core i7
Graphics i7: NVIDIA GeForce graphics (GPU)
Security TPM chip for enterprise security
Memory 16GB RAM
Wireless 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
Ports Two full-size USB 3.0
Full-size SD card reader
Surface Connect
Headset jack
Mini DisplayPort
Cameras, video and audio 5.0 megapixel front-facing camera
8.0 megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus, with 1080p HD video recording
Dual Microphones, front and rear facing
Front-facing stereo speakers with Dolby audio
Sensors Ambient light sensor • Accelerometer • Gyroscope • Magnetometer
What’s in the box Surface Book
Surface Pen
Power Supply
Quick Start Guide
Safety and warranty documents
Warranty 1-Year limited

Would you buy one?

Microsoft Surface Book May Use GeForce 930M Variant

Posted on by Samuel Wan
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Selling out quite quickly, the well-received Surface Book from Microsoft has still largely remained a mystery in terms of its tech specifications. Microsoft has still not revealed the major components other than it will run an i5/i7 CPU along with an unnamed Nvidia GeFroce GPU. We’re now hearing reports that the unnamed Nvidia GPU may be some variant of Nvidia’s GeForce 940M.

According to the Nvidia Control Panel, the GPU will feature 384 CUDA cores clocked at 945Mhz. For memory, a relatively meagre 64bit interface connects to 1GB of GDDR5 at 5010Mhz for 40.08 GB/s of bandwidth. For comparison, the 930M has the same number of shaders but with a slightly lower clock rate and DDR3 VRAM that only gives about 16GB/s. The 940M, on the other hand, has higher clock speeds but is sometimes saddled with DDR3 and other times uses GDDR5.

It’s interesting that Microsoft went with a discrete Nvidia GPU of this level given that Intel’s latest Iris Pro iGPUs are quite competitive right now. In fact, the top Intel iGPU will probably beat out the Surface Book dGPU. The current configuration with the GT2 in the tablet side and the 940M does offer some power benefits as the weaker GT2 can sip power in tablet mode and move to the more powerful 940M once the extra battery from the keyboard gets into the fray. On the other hand, Apple does manage to use just the Iris Pro in their slim portables so it remains to be seen which solution is better.

Tesco Has ‘No Plans’ to Launch Hudl 3 Tablet

Posted on by John Williamson
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Tesco’s ultra-affordable Hudl tablet sold fantastically well and managed to shift over 750,000 units. Its successor, the Hudl 2 was quite successful and heralded as an excellent value-for-money tablet. Many customers could access either model at half price using the Clubcard Boost promotion which reduced the price to around £65. Despite much speculation, it appears the Hudl 3 isn’t a priority for Tesco at this time. A spokesperson said:

“We continue to sell our Hudl 2 and it remains a popular device with our customers. We have no current plans to release a Hudl 3.”

This statement has been misinterpreted by some into thinking the Hudl 3 will never be released. Clearly, the Tesco spokesperson isn’t confirming or denying the plans of the Hudl 3, so its future is certainly unclear. Perhaps, Tesco believes the advent of affordable tablets from Amazon and other Chinese manufacturers reduces their product’s appeal. It would be a shame to see the end of this particular tablet range given the superb price and pleasant user-experience.

Tesco hasn’t removed the Hudl 2 from sale, so you can still purchase that at the time of writing. However, as time progresses, it will be eclipsed by cheaper, and more powerful devices.

Image courtesy of The Next Web.

Thank you Engadget for providing us with this information.

Surface Book All Sold Out From Microsofts Site

Posted on by Gareth Andrews
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Microsoft recently pushed quite hard on the smaller devices market, with the release of windows 10 supporting most of their devices they have two devices that are looking for release soon. First up was the next in the surface series, the Surface 4, running all the latest bits of technology and looks to be released by the end of the month. Then the new kid on the block is the Surface book. Essentially the bigger brother of the Surface the book was announced and we covered the details here. The problem with it being an amazing product is that people want it, quite badly it would seem.

As of this moment, it would seem that you can’t pre-order the new device from Microsoft’s store, instead users are greeted by a message asking them for their email address so Microsoft can contact you when it’s next available.

This is both good and bad. It is great news for Microsoft who are the probably celebrating the fact that their new devices have been so clearly and whole heartedly desired by the public. On the other hand, it means that they are going to need to step up production and give the public what they want.

While you can still get it from all the other places like Amazon, there is no reason to not look at the product before it’s released on the 29th October.

Thank you PC World for the information.

University of Cambridge Study Shows 87% of Android Devices Insecure

Posted on by Samuel Wan
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For those watching the Android ecosystem, it is plain to see that mobile OS suffers heavily from a casual security policy. However, the number of devices that are actually vulnerable to known security flaws can be hard to pinpoint. A University of Cambridge Study has found that 87.7% of active Android devices are vulnerable to at least 1 of 11  serious known exploits.

Starting from 2011, the University conducted a survey using Device Analyzer of over 20,400 Android devices and scanned them for version and build information. By comparing the versioning and when vulnerabilities were discovered, it turns out that only a small portion of the ecosystem were secure or maybe secure (specialised fix).

Much of the blame for this situation appears to rest with the OEMs. By considering the number of devices without vulnerabilities (Free), running the latest version (Update), and the average number of vulnerabilities on unpatched devices (Mean), the researchers came up with a FUM score out of 10. Given the lackluster effort OEMs put into their updates, it’s not surprising that all scored below 5. Even the famed Nexus phones fared little better at a measly 5.3 with the closest OEM, LG coming in at 4.

With OEMs generally only patching flagship devices and not even for that long, it looks like the Android ecosystem need an overhaul to address security. With Google only offering 3 years of patches from launch, even the Nexuses can stand to do much better. As the devices last longer and longer, the Android ecosystem should consider security updates for at least 3 years since the devices was last sold officially. Until Android changes to allow security patches to be made easier, it’s unlikely OEMs will put in the effort to ensure long-term security.

PC Sales Continue to Decline Despite Windows 10 Launch

Posted on by John Williamson
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The uptake of Windows 10 has been extraordinary thanks to the free-upgrade promotion and already been installed on more than 110 million devices. This was achieved within a 2-month period and exceeded Microsoft’s most-optimistic expectations. However, this resounding success story doesn’t indicate a sudden upturn in PC sales figures. According to data from Gartner, PC sales declined 7.7 percent during the third quarter.

This isn’t a shocking revelation as PCs are more than powerful enough for the average end-user to last a considerable amount of time. Additionally, the Windows 10 figures relate to existing computers being upgraded. Unlike other operating system launches, consumers don’t feel the need to purchase a new system just to access Microsoft’s latest software. Whatever the case, it seems the declining PC trend will continue for some time as vendors try to make other sectors more profitable.

On another note, Windows 10 is being used on more than traditional PCs. The operating system is being embedded into mobile devices and even the Xbox One. It’s interesting to see the impact of tablets and discussion regarding their usefulness. Can they replace PCs, or only act a supplementary device?

Do you think the future of traditional PCs is very bleak?

Thank you Engadget for providing us with this information. 

Microsoft Unveils the Surface Pro 4

Posted on by Ashley Allen
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Following the reveal of the Surface Book laptop, Microsoft has officially unveiled the Surface Pro 4, the latest in its line of tablet/laptop hybrids, and it’s more powerful, lighter, and thinner than its predecessors, but boasts a larger screen, Windows 10, and a revised Surface Pen.

Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President and creator of the Surface Panos Panay presented the new system by reminding us of the catchphrase used to promote every Surface thus far: “This challenge of the tablet and the laptop… which do you buy? Remember that problem? It’s gone.”

The Surface Pro 4 runs on Intel’s new Skylake processors, and its new keyboard includes a fingerprint sensor, while the tablet, with its 12/3-inch display, features Cortana integration. Thankfully, owners of previous models will find that older Surface keyboards are still compatible. The new, improved Surface Pen has 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, and even an eraser at the base.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gh4o9IqeEU

In order to squeeze the Intel Core processor – with the company claiming that the Surface Pro 4 is 50% faster than an Apple MacBook Air – into its thinnest ever tablet, Microsoft has heavily optimised its innards, using a G5 chipset to control the optical stack and covering the screen with 0.4mm Gorilla Glass 4.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is available for preorder now, starting at $899/£749 for the 128GB 6th Generation Intel Core M3, 4GB RAM iteration, ahead of its 26th October release.

Thank you The Verge for providing us with this information.