Tablet ASUS TF300T Launched – Could This Be The Affordably Priced Substitute for the Prime?
In the spring of the year gone by, ASUS launched its dual-core, Transformer Tablet, and then came the Transformer Prime later in December. Following this there were talks of a new upgraded edition of the Prime being introduced named TF700T that had different display and camera specifications. There also seems to be another prospective device getting ready for release because there have been pictures that had just come in that exposed an unheard of TF300T tablet.
As of now there are no facts that people can speculate about. This could probably be because ASUS could be having ideas of launching this new tablet as an affordably priced substitute for the more expensive Prime. This would in all probability mean that the dual processor would not have changed, but there could be certain enhanced features to prevent the feeling that it is old and outdated device. The tablet may have 1080p display that the new Prime is availing, but this could become quite a problem if they hope to keep the cost of the tablet down.
The only other piece of information that people have received regarding the TF300T when the pictures were sent across is that the tablet has a plastic back panel. This goes to show that the ASUS have understood things from the GPS issues it had earlier.
Microsoft releases ‘Kinect for Windows’ in the USA market
A ‘Windows PC’ version of ‘Kinect gesture controller’ has been just unveiled by Microsoft in the USA. The cost is $249 on Amazon and via Microsoft store.
The UK launch is expected shortly.
Microsoft has justified the cost. Greg Eisler of Microsoft said that the ‘Kinetic system for Xbox’ costs only GBP 90 because the console version is at reduced rates on account of game purchases and Xbox Live subscriptions. But the reduction will not apply for the Windows version, which requires Microsoft to create a platform not limited to the living room but much beyond that.
The beta license for the Kinect software will be valid up to June 2016. The developers can continue using it along with ‘Kinect for Xbox 360’ hardware. However the developers must use the hardware along with the Software Development Kits (SDK) to use the apps.
He advises developers to use ‘Kinect for Windows’ sensor, which is the only one meant for use in the personal development purposes, in the ‘Kinect for Windows’ application development
The system is supported on Windows 7.
Kinect for Windows has been so built that other companies can incorporate it into their
System quite easily. In other words, Kinect can be implanted directly into the devices.
Interestingly, there are reports that the Asus laptop integrates the feature.
Microsoft will be releasing the version later this year at a cost of $149.
Asus determined to resolve all its tablet issues
Certain technical problems have developed to the quad-core Prime, the latest Transformer tablet from Asus, soon after its launch.
Its GPS (Geographic Positioning System) performance has been below standard. In fact, Asus was forced to delete the mention of it from its specification.
There are Wi-Fi issues as well. But the authorities clarified that with thorough check it has been confirmed that none of the units dispatched to the UK has any such problem.
Tablets had graphical anomalies, with horizontal stripes, signal noise during playback etc.
Asus has clarified that all the issues will be sorted out somehow or the other by weekend.
If Asus sticks to its words, then the only hitch for the UK buyers will be the performance of the GPS.
In any case it has not been an auspicious start for the tablet. However things are expected to improve from now onwards.
Incidentally, the original Transformer owners must be wondering as to what happened to the Ice Cream Sandwich update, while the Transformer Prime has been already updated.
It is reported by Verge that the update will certainly come next month at least to USA. The UK users will have to wait for some more time. However it is heartening that there is some positive movement in that direction.
Microsoft non-committal in the release date of the next version of OS
It has been reliably learnt that ‘Windows 8’ Operating System will surface in October 2012. However, Janelle Poole of the ‘Windows Business Group’ refuses to comment about the exact launching date. He said that generally Windows releases take place every three years and Windows 7 was released in October 2009. Hence there is no harm in expecting a release of the new OS in October 2012. Janelle Poole is more concerned in the happenings of the next month.
It may be recalled that Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, had announced at the Microsoft Developer Forum at Tokyo in May 2011 that the new version of the Windows Operating System will be kicked off in the next year.
It means that one may be justified in expecting the release of it in the month of October. From what we have seen in the past, October is the month for most of the releases.
Steve Ballmer had also said that much more can be expected along with the new Operating System.
J.T. Wang, the CEO of Acer had also stated that units with Windows 8 will be landing in the second half of the year 2012, during the company’s press conference at the Vegas expo. Acer has also plans to introduce new ‘Ultrabook’ products at the same time.
All these confirm that plenty of exciting things from Microsoft will emerge in the near future.
New ‘OnLive Desktop’ app to surface in USA in the second week of January
The new app ‘OnLive Desktop’ will deliver Microsoft applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint to the iPad of Apple.
OnLive is better known as a gaming service, capable of bringing high end gaming to desktop, laptop, netbook and its own mini-console, with the help of remote servers and broadband connections. OnLive is utilizing its cloud computing abilities for better purposes. For example, the new OnLive Desktop app is used to bring the ‘Windows 7 productivity software’ to the iPad.
The OnLive Desktop app, which is free of charge, has 2 GB of online storage and has access to cloud based versions of MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint and many utilities.
The software can provide handwriting recognition, ‘on- screen’ Windows keyboard and full desktop functionality.
A paid version of the OnLive desktop is also in the offing. The users can avail 50 GB of cloud storage, additional software etc by paying GBP 9.99 every month. In the interest of business establishments, an Enterprise version has been created which can provide custom applications and adequate control over user permissions.
OnLive Desktop will also land in smartphones, Android tablets, Macs, PCs and also televisions through MicroConsole with Bluetooth keyboard.
The users will have the facility to access the same desktop from any of their devices from anywhere and create and edit documents and presentations.
OnLive Desktop can be had from App Store from 12th January in the USA. The date of its availability in the UK is not yet revealed.
Sony forced to reduce the cost of its tablet personal computers
Sony has decided to slash the cost of ‘Sony Tablet S’ by $100. The reduction is applicable to both 16 GB and 32 GB versions of the tablet.
Sony has been forced to take this action in view of the stiff competition from Android tablets. Samsung and Motorola are also giving enough headaches to Sony.
But the biggest to take on Sony is ‘Amazon Kindle Fire’ tablet, which is acclaimed to be the most gifted and enviable product, selling like hot cakes in the online stores of Amazon.
Since its inception in October 2011, ‘Sony Tablet S’ has faced mixed reactions from the public. Its strange but unique design has won the heart of many customers; but there has been criticism with its internet connectivity features. Its physical build is also not satisfactory for the customers.
Sony had already reduced the price of the tablet by $50 in December 2011. Further reduction now gives an indication that the product is not becoming as popular as hoped by Sir Stringer and other top officials of Sony.
There does not seem to be a further cost reduction at least in the UK. The current cost for 16 GB and 32 GB models are GBP 349 and GBP 429 respectively. These are, in fact, lower than those announced by ‘Dixons’ originally.
Apple’s laptop casing unit in China remains closed
On complaints from the local residents, the factory that produces the laptop casings of
Apple’s MacBook is under constant inspection from the concerned authorities in Chinese towns. The people have complained that unbearable, fowl odour is emitting from the factory premises.
Apple does not seem to be concerned about the complaints.
In the month of October, the factory in Suzhou, China was closed down by the company Catcher Technology, based in Taiwan.
The Taiwanese company refused to make any comment. It however said that the factory is under periodic inspection by the authorities. Earlier, that is in the month of October, it had stated that if the factory remains closed, its sales revenue in the month of October and November would fall by 20 and 40 % respectively.
Yee Fang, a spokeswoman of the local authorities stated that the waste-gas treatment system of the factory is under observation. Steps are being taken to set things right. There is nothing else to report for the time being.
Helen Chiang, an analyst of IDC, a research firm remarked that Apple is not worried about the current situation in the Suzhou factory as it is concentrating on its production elsewhere. The situation is under control for Apple. The analyst forecasts that the demand for Apple’s MacBook laptop for the forth quarter will be lower than that in the third quarter.
LG’s latest Ultrabook ‘Xnote Z330’ released
With the introduction of Intel’s ‘Ivy Bridge’, a small but more efficient processor, in 2012, Ultrabook market may become dull. In spite of that, the manufacturers are continuing to bring out laptops based on the old ‘Sand Bridge’ architecture. Ultrabooks from manufacturers like Hp, Lenovo, Toshiba, Acer and Asus are emerging. Even LG has come out with Xnote Z330 Ultrabook in South Korea. It is not known when it will surface in the UK.
The Z330 will consist of Core i7 2637M or Core i5 2467M processor, 4 GB of Random Access Memory, integrated Intel High Definition Graphics 3000 and Solid State Device of 128 or 256 GB. It will come with a 13.3 inch High Definition Light Emitting Diode backlit screen with a resolution of 1336 x 768.
It has provision for Wi-Fi b/g/n connectivity. It is suitable for Intel WiDi, Bluetooth 3.0,
USB 3.0 and HDMI. Unfortunately memory card reader and ThunderBolt port are absent.
The weight is 1.21 Kg. The dimensions are 315 x 215 x 14.7 mm, which means it is not slim as that of some of its competitors.
It will also have Super Speed Tech which allows booting in just 9.9 seconds. The cost is likely to be between GBP 960 and GBP 1450, just the same range as most other Ultrabooks.
‘Windows 8’ is simply excellent, remarks Intel CEO
Paul Otellini, CEO of Intel is all praise for Windows 8. He considers that the introduction of it was the best thing to happen in the history of Intel.
He remarked that while it brings for the first time ARM (Advanced RISC Machines) support for the operating system, Windows 8 would transform PC as well as tablet markets. He is too excited about the new operating system, which will be good not only for the PCs but also for the tablets.
Ottelini is not quite happy with the existing tablet OSs, which give lot of problems to the IT engineers. Security is at risk. So the engineers are reluctant to transfer their important applications to an iPad or Android tablet.
Microsoft is doing what is good for them. It has a new interface by name Metro. But Intel based machines also do have a software button to take the user back for the windows experience.
Ottelini is sure that Intel’s latest ultra portable laptops will induce life into the sleeping PC market.
According to Otellini Intel’s Ultrabook happened to be thinner, slimmer, faster and more secure. The battery life is longer. The cost is fairly reasonable. But Apple’s MacBook, introduced a few years back has been costlier.
The Fate of Chromebooks in 2012
The Chromebook is an ultra-slim portable unit which runs programs in the Cloud. Chrome is the brainchild of Google and was first manufactured by Samsung and Acer. During the first year of its appearance, the device has not been a huge success.
In Analysts opinion the slow sales of Chromebook can be attributed to the consumer’s lack of knowledge with the concepts of Cloud computing. However, Retail chain Dixon is optimistic about Chromebook’s future. To show off the capabilities of Chromebook, Dixons has introduced a committed division in PC World on Tottenham Court road. One of the executives of Dixons’ told the Telegraph that the sales of Chromebook would go high the next year.
Director of computing, Mark Slater told the news paper that by this time next year about 10% of the company’s computing business would be from the sale of Chromebook. With the correct combination of hardware partners and consumer awareness this target could be achieved. Even though Chromebook has not become a huge success, 1 in 10 computers sold is a Chromebook.
It is expected that more big companies are coming to the market with Chromebooks next year. Anyway, if Dixons is able to impress the consumers by explaining the concept behind Google’s shiny portables in the right perspective, definitely the sales of Chromebook could be increased.
At present the consumers are showing great interest in tablets.
Some major companies are going to enter the market with Intel Ultrabooks. Finally Windows 8 tablet is expected to be released in 2012. When these factors are taken in to consideration, how can Slater make his aim come true?
Of course it is admitted that Chromebook has its own merits – instantaneous booting and security of operating in the Cloud – coupled with this. If the price of the device comes a little low, the chance of materializing Slater’s prediction would be high.