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Is the iPad really that revolutionary?

Rich Bilancia — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:38:43 +0000

I followed the live blogs on Wednesday. Yesterday, I watched the official and full video of the announcement event posted on the Apple website (it can be found here). My conclusion is similar to what I’ve seen posted elsewhere: it’s nice, I even briefly considered buying one, but….

First, let me get the obligatory list out of the way.(...)
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Samsung Mobile Tablet Computers to Gain Instant-On Tech 2010

Chuong Nguyen — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:25:55 +0000

In 2010, you can grab your Samsung UMPC, push the power button, and it will boot up and be ready for use in a literally a few seconds. The instant-on technology would definitely be a huge boost to the tablet market when people really need their tablets right away in a moment’s notice to jot a quick note or glance at that quick email. The technology will probably be useful for those who may want to use their tablets as an ebook reader.

The Hyperspace technology for instant-on is developed by Phoenix Technologies, known for its BIOS works, and would work on the Linux partition of a dual-booting Windows machine. On the Linux portion, you’d have access to programs, emails, and wireless. Using Hyperspace, according to Phoenix, would help users save on battery and gain time between recharges.

In addition to adding Hyperspace technology to its UMPC lineup, which includes devices like the Q1 series, Samsung is looking to expand that to its mobile computing platform, which may include netbooks.

Source: jkOnTheRun

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Post tags: ereader, hyperspace, instant on, Phoenix Technologies, q1, Samsung, Samsung Q1, Tablet, UMPC

Samsung Moment on Sprint as a Convertible Tablet Contender

Chuong Nguyen — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:56:36 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

In our definition of what constitutes a tablet computing platform, we find that smartphones, too, are tablets in that it can provide us with computing functionality in a slate or convertible form factor with a mobile operating system–which can provide s0me gains in battery life compared to a more power-hungry Windows system, as well as connectivity to the internet. It looks like Android, as a mobile operating system designed by Google, is raising to that challenge. we caught up with Sprint and Samsung at CTIA a few weeks ago in sunny San Diego, California to preview the Samsung M900 Moment, which is an Android smartphone with a sliding QWERTY hardware keyboard. Can this replace your tablet?

While it may not be able to replace a full Tablet PC (a moniker that has survived the Windows XP Tablet PC operating system and since then has been replaced with just a Windows name with tablet functions built-in) setup, a mobile phone with the right set of productivity and fun applications can serve to get the mobile executive through a working day without having to rely on a heavier, larger Windows machine. Some examples of smartphone operating systems that provide touch input include the iPhone operating system (which Apple stresses to be based off of the same OS X operating system), Android, Symbian, and Windows Mobile–the latter two with their resistive touchscreen provide inking functionality and more accurate input via a stylus making them more direct challengers to traditional, Windows-based tablet machines. Another challenger is Linux, which can be found on the Nokia N900.

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Post tags: Android, capacitive, convertible, resistive, Samsung, Samsung Moment, Smartphone, Spring, Sprint Moment, touchscreen, Windows Mobile

What exactly is a Tablet?

Chris Leckness — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:23:47 +0000

We know that tablet in the context we use in our domain is basically a mobile device that you can write on. Like a tablet of paper. What are other meanings of tablet though? This is what we get from Wikipedia.

A tablet is a mixture of pharmacological substances pressed into a small cake or bar; colloquially called a "pill".

Tablet may also refer to:

Writing tablets

Clay tablet, one of the earliest known writing mediums

Wax tablet, used as far back as ancient Greece

tabulae ansatae tablets with handles

Graphics tablet, a modern computer input device, used on a desk surface

Tablet PC, a modern portable computer, where the screen is also the primary input device

Writings and publications

Tablet (religious), a traditional term used for any religious text

Tablet (newspaper), a newspaper published in Seattle, Washington

The Tablet, a Catholic magazine published in the United Kingdom

Other

Tablet (confectionery), a medium-hard, sugary dessert from Scotland

So we are going to go with Table PC since it’s the closest to what we are going to be covering here. To be honest, Tablet PC is the bulk for now, but it’s not the only thing I consider a tablet.

(...)
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Who wants just an eBook reader?

Rich Bilancia — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:29:06 +0000

The Barnes & Nobel eBook reader has been revealed. Do any of us really want one if we already have a Tablet PC? There’s no question that the newspaper industry is in trouble as we now get our news so many other ways. But are eBook readers the solution?

If you’re interested in an eBook reader, there are lots of small-screen dedicated readers on the market today. The Kindle 2 & DX and the Sony eReader top the list. There’s also a second tier set of products that include the recently mentioned BeBook, IREX DR800SG and a whole host of others. Some might say the market is getting crowded.

As I’ve said in other postings, “I want a device that allows me to do two things very well: browse the internet and read eBooks.” Kindle is the only announced product with a built-in web browser, but it’s not without limitations—including the fact that it can’t be used overseas.

If you’re thinking of buying an eBook reader, before you decide your “must reading” should include Brian Lam’s posting at Gizmodo.com: “Why I Think E-Ink Readers Are Dumb.” I especially agree with Brian’s comment that:

“Crippled as these more “advanced” readers are, they still don’t come close to approaching the functionality of a true tablet. The Apple and Microsoft tablets will be capable of decent book presentation, but will also play back TV, movies, music, web pages and hybridized print media.”

A couple of years ago, “convergence” was the hope and plan for the PDA, camera, cell phone and MP3 player industries. In many respects that convergence has occurred. Now it’s time to think about convergence again, this time converging the netBook, the eBook reader, touch and multimedia player. Wait a minute, don’t we already have that with a Table PC?

Another article worth reading is Suzanne Choney’s MSNBC posting, “Tablet, schmablet: What would it be good for?”

Technorati Tags: ebook reader

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My new e-book reader, my new UMPC, my old Tablet PC

Rich Bilancia — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:57:35 +0000

It should be news to no one that most parts of our economy are not doing very well. That situation makes it especially tough on those of us that crave the latest and greatest mobility gadgets. I’ve been a gadget collector for my entire adult life. From a mobility point of view, I’ve been a very satisfied Table PC owner and user since late 2002 when they were first released. Unlike many of my friends and peers, I keep my gadgets a bit longer. The Tablet PCs that I’ve owned include: a Compaq TC1000, an HP TC1100 and most recently a Lenovo X60 Tablet. I’ve started looking at e-book readers and UMPCs to either replace and/or supplement my nearly three year old Lenovo X60 Tablet. I want a device that allows me to do two things very well: browse the internet and read e-books. Additionally, it would be nice to occasionally listen to my digital music collection. So what did I do? For the last several months I’ve been researching MIDs, UMPCs, e-book readers in search of the perfect replacement device. The prospects of the Apple and the Crunchgear tablets are intriguing, but they are not yet available. Accordingly, I’d pretty much settled on the the announced but not yet available Archos 9 running Windows 7. I had seriously considered the Viliv X70 UMPC but after learning that the OS was Windows XP Home Edition (not the Tablet PC Edition), I crossed it off my list. Enter Windows 7 to the equation. Needing to wait until the official retail release of Windows 7 (which determines the availability date of the Archos 9), I decided to keep looking for other options. Over this past weekend, I learned that as a registered Microsoft partner and a subscriber to the Microsoft Action Pack, I was eligible to download the official RTM (release to manufacturing) version of Windows 7 Professional. With my old TC1100 Tablet PC sitting on the shelf not being used, I downloaded the Windows 7 RTM with plans to install it on the TC1100. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t even sure it would work. Having been a long time reader of the forums at www.TabletPCBuzz.com, I quickly learned that others were already running Windows 7 on the TC1000/TC1100. I found a TC1100 installation guide for the RC (release candidate) version of Windows 7 at HP/TC1100/Windows 7 Installation Notes, While I followed these installation instructions in detail, I did not have problems with either the SoundMax or Wifi drivers. I suspect that things were simply fixed in the RTM version of Windows 7. When the installation completed, I was quickly impressed with the initial results and system performance. Next, I installed my four favorite e-book readers, all of which work perfectly: Microsoft Reader (the one I use most often) Sony Reader (not the device, just the software) Barnes & Nobel eReader (formerly eReader.com) Zinio (for magazines) My TC1100 has new life! I couldn’t be happier with the results and performance of the device with Windows 7 on it. Compared to the Archos 9, I now have: a bigger screen (10” 1024x768 vs. 9” 1024x600) a 1.2 Ghz Intel Pentium M (733) processor vs. an 800 Mhz Intel Atom (Silverthorne) more RAM (1536 MB vs. 1024 MB) more money in my pocket What’s missing from the TC1100 is: finger touch a faster graphics processor While I can’t run Aero Glass Desktop, Flip, 3D or Media Center, my TC1100 boots faster than ever and now has many of the features of a new UMPC or Tablet running Windows 7. The best part is that in these challenging economic times I did not need to spend several hundred dollars. --- Rich Bilancia

Will Microsoft Tablet Be Geared At Electronic Books?

Chuong Nguyen — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:35:37 +0000

With Apple’s tablet getting rumored to have a books and magazines approach rather than a multimedia approach, the latest speech that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave in Europe seems to indicate that Microsoft will be going the Apple route as well. When asked whether the Redmond, Washington software giant will venture into the electronic or digital books market, Ballmer said that we already have PCs that take care of that job. This, at least, puts to rest rumors that Microsoft will compete with Amazon and Sony on a Kindle or Reader device.

Ballmer says: “We have a device for reading. It’s the most popular device in the world. It’s the PC. But no, we are not interested in e-readers ourselves.” Whether Microsoft’s rumored hardware in the Courier Tablet will materialize into a device that serves a function as an electronic book reader is another story–the Courier is said to be running a cool UI on top of Windows 7. Other low-cost devices that bridge the span between low-cost netbook with high-end touchscreen functionality of tablet PCS may also fill the electronic reader gap nicely. One such device is the LBook T9, which is slim, portable, attractive, and costs only $375 when it will be launched.

Ballmer also welcomed the idea of digital content storefronts like the Kindle bookstore on Amazon to offer digital books that are readable on PCs.

Source: eWeek Europe

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Post tags: Courier Tablet, digital books, electronic books, electronic reader, Kindle, LBook, Microsoft, Microsoft Courier, Tablet

Smartphones are Tablets Too!

Chuong Nguyen — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:16:30 +0000

When people think of tablet computing, they think of larger 10-inch or greater displays that are in either the traditional slate form factor or comes in a convertible, laptop-like exterior, but UMPC Portal reminds us that tablets come in many different sizes and form factors, from large screened tablets to small screened smartphones and mobile internet devices that has a touchscreen, can handle finger or pen input, and perform some handwriting recognition if you need it to.

Are you using a tablet? If you’re using an iPhone or a smartphone, like the HTC Pure (3.2-inch display) running Windows Mobile as its operating system, you’re using a tablet. Modern day smartphones and PDAs, while they don’t run a full blown operating system like Mac OS X or Windows, still do perform many of the tablet tasks. It’d be interesting to see the future of tablet computing as smartphones gain more power.

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HTC Pure: A Tablet Smartphone for AT&T

Chuong Nguyen — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:14:24 +0000

While the HTC Pure isn’t as large as the Mangrove tablet that we saw earlier, the device actually runs the same Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system that the larger Mangrove utilizes. The Pure is a smartphone that has a 3.2-inch WVGA display, supports both finger and stylus input on its resistive touchscreen, and sports WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G radios. With Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, and OneNote Mobile loaded as part of Windows Mobile, the Pure may be a great mobile tablet for users who need to have handwriting recognition on the go and the power-saving features of a mobile OS rather than full Windows.

I actually did a couple videos for pocketnow–a smartphone site that I write for–but the videos won’t be featured for pocketnow so I figured I’d share these videos with the TabletSite audience. These are my very first YouTube videos, so hopefully you’ll give me some good feedback. You’ll probably see more videos of me for pocketnow featured here at TabletSite in the future, as well as some review videos of tablets made exclusively for TabletSite.

Unboxing of the Pure:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hardware tour of the Pure:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Just remember, smartphones are tablets too and can do some of the basic tablet computing functions!

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Post tags: AT&T, HTC, HTC Pure, Smartphone, Tablet, Windows Mobile, Windows Mobile 6.5

Mangrove: The Windows Mobile PDA That Attempts Life as Tablet

Chuong Nguyen — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:19:25 +0000

Mangrove, a tablet device with a 7-inch resistive touchscreen made by C-motech, is actually powered by Microsoft’s mobile operating system unlike traditional tablets that are powered by Microsoft’s Windows OS. At its heart is Windows Mobile 6.5 with a fast Snapdragon mobile processor clocking in at 1 GHz. I’ve reported about the Mangrove over at pocketnow.com, and the device is extremely finger-friendly with its slate tablet form factor.

The device also has USB ports for USB host, meaning you can connect accessories like memory sticks and harddrives, as well as WiFi, a microSD card, and wireless options like 3G or WiMax.

Would you want to carry this over-sized PDA around? With 3G/4G wireless and WiFi on-board along with the capability of connecting a USB HID device like a keyboard, it can make for a great mobile internet device (MID), electronic book reader like the Apple tablet, or lower cost alternative to full-blown tablets for those who don’t need the full power of Windows. Of course, with Windows Mobile, users can still access the net, edit and view Microsoft Office files, play music and movies, and have access to the numerous programs and applications titles available for the platform.

Source: pocketnow.com

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Post tags: PDA, resistive touchscreen, Tablet, Windows Mobile, Windows Mobile 6.5