HP plans to hold off on building ARM-based Windows tablets, focus on x86 instead

Ease of use 8.6 Speed 8.4 Configurability 8.4 Ecosystem (apps, drivers, etc.) 8.7 Openness 6.9

Get better reviews from people who actually have this product!

write a reviewsee all reviews ?

View the original article here

Will Surface tablets use Microsoft's new MagSafe-like power and data connector?

By Sharif Sakr posted Jun 19th 2012 4:02AM

Microsoft has borrowed a couple of Apple-flavored notions for the launch of its new Surface tablets. For a start, it's avoided mentioning certain tech specs -- like the amount of RAM -- and now one of our readers has noticed something else: the strange-looking power port on the new devices looks very much like the magnetic, MagSafe-style connector Microsoft sent to the US Patent Office last week. We could be wrong, but the two do seem nearly identical, in which case Surface owners -- just like new Apple buyers -- may also have to put up with the clutter of more proprietary cables.

[Thanks, Ryan]

View the original article here

Microsoft Surface tablets: the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro models

By Darren Murph posted Jun 18th 2012 8:14PM

Surfaces. Turns out, the plural form of Microsoft's new tablet range rolls off of the tongue with ease, but understanding the differences between the first two models may not be quite as easy -- particularly for the everyman, or folks intimately familiar with Microsoft's other Surface. Two editions -- Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro -- were unveiled today in Los Angeles, and while the exterior of each one looks nearly identical, the innards expose major differences in architecture. Let's break it all down after the break, shall we? Processor: NVIDIA Tegra-based ARM chipWeight: 676 gramsThickness: 9.3 millimetersDisplay: 10.6-inch ClearType HD capactive touchpanelBattery: 31.5WhI/O: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennaeSoftware: Windows RT + Office Home & Student 2013 RTAccessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & StandCapacity: 32GB / 64GBAvailability: "Around" the Windows 8 launch (fall 2012)Pricing: To be determinedProcessor: Intel Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)Weight: 903 gramsThickness: 13.5 millimetersDisplay: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD (1080p) capactive touchpanelBattery: 42WhI/O: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 2x2 MIMO antennaeSoftware: Windows 8 ProAccessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand, Pen with Palm BlockCapacity: 64GB / 128GBAvailability: "Three months after" the Windows 8 launch this fallPricing: To be determined

So, what's the story? Well, for one, Microsoft's playing coy when it comes to both CPU speed and available memory. Not unlike Apple and its iPad, actually. We're guessing that the company will try to push the user experience instead of focusing on pure specifications, and it's frankly about time the industry started moving in that direction. Pure hardware attributes only get you so far, and judging by the amount of integration time that went into this project, Microsoft would be doing itself a huge disservice to launch anything even close to not smooth-as-butter.

It's worth pointing out that the ARM-based WinRT (psst -- you can catch up on what exactly Windows RT is here) model is both thinner and lighter than the version with Windows 8 Pro. Moreover, the battery is sized up in the latter, presumably to handle the higher power drain of the 1080p panel and the Core i5 processor. Strangely, microSDXC and USB 3.0 are only supported on the Win8 Pro model; we're guessing it's either a platform limitation, or just run-of-the-mill cost cutting. That said, bundling Office with the WinRT edition is apt to make Win8 Pro buyers salty; why not include it with the slate that'll be priced like a laptop (i.e. well north of what a lot of buyers will be willing to pay)? While we're comparing and contrasting, it's also vital to note that the WinRT variant won't ship with a 1080p panel; Microsoft didn't get specific on screen resolution, but a paltry 1366 x 768 is going to look mighty pixelated sitting next to a 1080p Win8 Pro sibling, a Retina-equipped iPad and ASUS' 1080p Zenbook / Transformer lines.

Those looking for a complete Windows experience in the form of a tablet will obviously need to pony up for the Windows 8 Pro model; those content with new, Metro-style apps engineered for Windows on ARM will likely save a few bucks by selecting that Surface. The real issue here is the murkiness when it comes to pricing. Microsoft is shying away from specifics, only saying that "pricing for Surface for Windows RT will be on par with other Windows RT tablets," and "pricing for Surface for Windows 8 Pro will be on par with Ultrabook-grade laptops." Unlike Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, Microsoft is in a tricky situation; it can only do so much on its own before it ticks off those all-important OEMs that'll also be making Windows-based slates in the near future, and undercutting those guys on pricing won't go over well in terms of business relationships.

In fact, we'll be eagerly awaiting reactions from the likes of ASUS, Acer, HP, Toshiba, Dell and the rest of the lot -- Microsoft just made itself a rival in a lot of ways, and only time will tell how prudent that decision was. It's also bizarre that Microsoft isn't opening up pre-orders on these right away. As we've seen with Palm, announcing a hugely hyped product with no concrete launch path and no way to get dollars funneled in with pre-orders doesn't typically turn out well -- or, as well as it could have. It's also downright worrisome that no battery life figures were bandied about. Windows-based tablets of the past have always fallen short due to simply running out of gas in three to four hours, and today's tablet expectations are far different than even a few years ago. Is it possible for a Windows 8 Pro tablet to last 6+ hours on a single charge? Only time will tell, but we sure wish MS would've provided some sort of idea from the get-go.

View the original article here

SanDisk announces Extreme Pro microSD cards for smartphones and tablets, quick speeds starting at $60

SANDISK INTRODUCES WORLD'S FASTEST MEMORY CARD
FOR SMARTPHONES AND TABLETS

Loads apps faster, transfers files quicker and improves overall system responsiveness with up to 95MB/sec read and up to 90MB/sec write speeds1

Ideal for users running multiple apps such as mobile games, email, photo capture and Full-HD2 video recording

Mobile phones will capture 525 billion images in 2012 and nearly one third of all video footage in 2014, according to IDC

MILPITAS, Calif., June 19, 2012-SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced the world's fastest mobile memory card. The SanDisk Extreme Pro® microSDHC™ UHS-I card is ideal for smartphone and tablet users who want to boost their device's storage capacity while enjoying the fastest mobile experience.

Maximum Performance for Next-Generation Mobile Devices
The SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDHC UHS-I card enables smartphone and tablet users to fully enjoy their mobile device's advanced applications.

·Full HD Video Capture: Mobile phones will capture approximately one third of all video footage by 2014, according to IDC3. With a UHS Speed Class 1 rating (Class 10 equivalent), the new card allows consumers to record superior Full HD videos, even in 3D

·High-Quality Photo Capture: Mobile phones will capture 525 billion photos in 2012, roughly half of all photos captured this year, according to IDC4. The card is ideal for mobile imaging applications, offering up to 90MB/sec write speed for capturing multiple photos using burst mode with a UHS-I enabled mobile device

·Faster File Transfers: With up to 95 megabyte per second (MB/sec) read speed, the card moves files quickly between host devices

·Seamless Multitasking; Fast Downloads: The card allows consumers to smoothly run multiple applications at the same time and download files quickly using 4G LTE phones

"SanDisk offers the broadest mobile memory card lineup in the industry," said Chris Loh, director, product marketing, SanDisk. "Our portfolio includes microSD cards with the fastest speeds, highest storage capacities and reliability that consumers demand."

Availability and Pricing
The SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDHC UHS-I card is available on www.sandisk.com in 8 gigabyte (GB)5 and 16GB capacities carrying MSRPs of $59.99 and $99.99. The card is compatible with any microSDHC-slotted device and is ideal for UHS-enabled smartphones and tablets.

View the original article here