Gareth
Seasoned tech blogger. Host of the Tech Addicts podcast.
Archos have had a second try at an Android gaming tablet having some success with the first generation Archos GamePad. This time around it’s mostly all change with a re-design and some beefed up specs.
Coming with some red hot gaming preinstalled we have a look at just how gamer friendly the Archos GamePad 2 really is.
Archos GamePad 2 specification:
- 7’’: 1280 x 800 pixels, IPS,
- Quad-core A9 @ 1.6GHz
- Android 4.2
- 2GB RAM
- 8GB/16GB + micro SD
- 200.5 mm x 154 mm x 9.9 mm
- 400g
- Two analogue thumb-sticks
- Directional pad
- 6 front facing buttons
- 4 shoulder buttons
- G-sensor
- HDMI output
- Front webcam
The LG Chromebase is now available to pre-order in the UK. Amazon lists the recommended retail price of the all-in-one Chrome OS PC as £279. It has an estimated dispatch time of 1-3 months. Two versions are on offer: a white version is currently listed at £269 while a black model can be bagged for a little less at £268.
The LG Chromebase is also based around a 21.5-inch IPS display, notably one without touch functionality, at a matching resolution of 1920×1080, and is powered by an Intel Celeron 2955U paired with 2GB RAM and a 16GB SSD.
The first Bay Trail powered Chromebook to hit the market, the Asus C200 and C300 are official. Asus has made it official on their website. The two models have the same specs except for the screen size. The C200 is a 11.6-inch LED backlit HD glossy screen (1366 x 768) and the C300 has a bigger, 13.3 screen.
Asus C200 and C300 specification:
- Intel® Bay Trail-M Dual Processor N2830 2.42 GHz
- 11.6-inch LED backlit HD glossy screen (1366 x 768) (13.3 on C300)
- 720p HD camera
- 2 GB RAM
- 16 GB SSD
- 1 x USB2.0 port + 1 x USB 3.0 port
- 1 x HDMI 1.4
- 2.5 lbs for the 11.6 model and 3.1 lbs for the 13.3 model.
There are some confusion about the price at the moment. Some reports say that both models are priced $249. If you are getting a 13.3 Chromebook for $249, that is a sweet deal indeed. No word of UK prices.
Lenovo announced two new Chromebooks, this time for the consumer market. It has now been revealed their next in the Chromebook line up with N20 and N20p. The new Chromebooks have flexible displays you can rotate, and one model comes with a touchscreen. The display can be rotated back to allow the N20p to form a stand, or tent mode as it has now been internationally recognised. The N20 Chrome is similar to the N20p without touch operation and the flexible display.
- Intel Celeron
- Intel HD Graphics
- Bluetooth 4.0
- 1,366 x 768 screen
- 16GB SSD
- 4GB RAM
- 802.11ac
- USB 3.0
- 2.8lbs and 3.1lbs
In a USPTO application filed in 2012 under the title ‘Wearable Personal Information System’, Microsoft shows off their idea for the latest craze in health focused mobile technology, the smartwatch. The patent outlines how their device would feature a small detachable screen built that can be attached to fitness-related equipment. The device can also be used as a music player and alarm clock, as well as for messaging and telephone purposes. A watch from Microsoft is likely to feature its own operating system based on the Windows OS for desktop and Windows Phone.
The success of its Hudl tablet over Christmas has been confirmed by the that Tesco is set to launch not one but two new devices. A Hudl branded smartphone alongside an evolutionary update to the Hudl tablet from last year.
The smartphone is not expected to appear until the end of the year however it will keep the Hudl branding. Oddly, the BBC reports that the phone will run Android and be of a comparable specification to the Samsung Galaxy S5. Much like the Hudl tablet this phone will come preloaded with Tesco services, including Blinkbox video streaming and Tesco shopping apps. The addition of these bundled apps will allow Tesco to “aggressively priced” a higher-end smartphones.
In addition, Tesco also confirmed that the Hudl 2 could arrive as early as September. The first incarnation of the low priced, Archos built, 7-inch tablet sold around 550,000 units since launch before Christmas and was not only applauded for it’s low cost and higher than expected specifications but the ability to pay with Clubcard points helps many families justify having one.
No specifications or prices for either the Hudl phone or Hudl 2 Tablet have been confirmed at this point.
Acer has announced a large amount of new devices in New York this past week. Another tablet on their roadmap is the Acer Iconia Tab 7, a familiar looking tablet with many stylings borrowed from other tablets already on the market.
Running on Android 4.4 the Acer Iconia Tab 7 improves of some of the spercs of the Acer Iconia One 7, launched the same day. A Media Tek MT8382 Quad Core 1.3Ghz runs the show with 1GB of RAM. A 7″ IPS HD 1280×800 display looks great with 8gb and 16gb variants available. A 5MP rear camera and 0.3MP fornt facing camera round out an attractively styled budget offering.
Acer unveiled the Acer Iconia Tab 7(¹) at its “A Touch More Connected” launch event in New York. Equipped with phone functionality and 3G connectivity, the Iconia Tab 7 is the marriage of the two most used consumer devices — a tablet and phone — together in a super portable, premium-looking design with a vibrant 7-inch screen. Users can use 3G to browse, keep in touch, stay current on news, events and social networks, as well as enjoy voice calls.
A slim design with premium look and feel
The slim Acer Iconia Tab 7 has a premium look and feel with a clean and simple design of anodized silver. The 0.89 cm (0.35 inches) thin body, narrow 11.6 cm (4.6 inches) width and light 298 g (0.66 lb) weight makes the Iconia Tab 7 extremely comfortable to hold and use with a single hand for phone calls and browsing, yet it’s large enough for reading text and enjoying video.Impressive media performance and imaging
Available with two screen options(¹), the vibrant 7-inch screen delivers crisp visuals with up to 1280×800 HD resolution and IPS(²) technology for sharp, truly vivid colors from wide viewing angles. Plus, customers can do even more with their Iconia Tab 7 thanks to its powerful quad-core processor. Dual cameras ensure users can capture all the most important moments, and it features Android 4.4 (KitKat) and up to 6 hours(3) of battery life.
Tap, swipe and pinch with fewer fingerprints
With all those taps, swipes and pinches, screens can get dirty quickly, but not with the Iconia Tab 7. Equipped with an anti-fingerprint coating, messy fingerprints and smudges are reduced while also making it much easier to clean.
The Iconia Tab 7 is equipped with a MicroSD™ card slot for extended storage and easy sharing. For further storage expansion, users can take advantage of AcerCloud™ (4) and enjoy seamless sharing of videos, photos, music and documents across multiple devices.
Pricing and availability
The Acer Iconia Tab 7 will be available in Latin American markets at the end of June with prices starting at $1,990 MX Peso; in Europe, Middle East and Africa middle of May with prices starting at €149.
According to some new intel which popped up this morning, Samsung is gearing up to launch a new line of Galaxy Tab S tablets later this year. These new Android tablets will supposedly feature higher end specs than current models, including features like:
Galaxy Tab S line specification:
- 2560×1600 AMOLED displays (for the 8.4-inch and 10.5-inch models)
- Fingerprint Sensors
- An octa-core Exynos 5 (5420) SoC, including four Cortex A15 cores, four Cortex A9 cores and a Mali T628 GPU
- 3GB of RAM
- 8MP rear camera
- LTE connectivity (when/where applicable)
- IR blaster
Of course, as we have seen in the past, a high-end tablet doesn’t necessarily translate into sales or success for Android. For the most part, it’s the cheaper alternatives which have flourished in Android tablet-land. Everything depends on how aggressively Samsung prices these gadgets.
Recently, in New York, Acer announced a few new devices. Amongst them was this low end, wallet friendly slab. The Acer Iconia One 7 is a reasonably priced and stylish alternative for the budget market. Combining an attractive display with a grippy rubberised rear. Priced competitively the One 7 looks like it will be able to handle the rougher lifestyle as the user will have increased grip with the rubber covering alongside a little more protection if dropped.
Whilst the specifications are hardly anything to write home about, there is enough to keep this tablet as a contender. An Intel Atom based Z2560 Dual-core processor running at 1.6ghz should keep most happy along with a modest 1gb of RAM. Both 8gb and 16gb models will be available allowing more storage by way of microSD card expansion. The 7″ IPS display 1280×800 provides a bright front end. However, two cameras, a 2MP rear shooter and 0.3MP front faced, seem quite underwhelming. No details of the battery size have been revealed however 7 hours have been quoted, this will hopefully change one Android 4.4 makes it’s way onto the tablet as it is currently running 4.2.
On April 29, 2014 Acer unveiled the Acer Iconia One 7 at its “A Touch More Connected” launch event in New York. The incredibly portable 7-inch tablet, with Intel® dual-core processor, is the ultimate device for anyone who wants to enjoy mobile entertainment in a stylish device with multiple color options. The affordable price makes it even more compelling for families and anyone on a budget.
“Since the beginning, Acer’s mission has been to break down the barriers between people and technology and make the latest technologies accessible to all people,” said Maverick Shih, president of Acer’s BYOC and Tablet Business Group. “The new Iconia One 7 is a great example of how we continue this heritage by offering mobile devices with great functionality, unique designs and excellent value.”
“Congratulations to Acer on delivering the Intel Atom-powered Acer Iconia One 7 to market. It offers superb gaming and entertainment performance, long battery life and a sleek form factor,” said Hermann Eul, vice president and general manager of Intel’s Mobile and Communications Group. “We look forward to continuing our close work with Acer to bring additional innovative mobile devices to market that meet the ever-increasing demands of today’s consumers.”Smooth motion and true-to-life visuals
Games and video run smoothly on the Acer Iconia One 7 thanks to the Intel® Atom™ Z2560 processor. The 7-inch LED-backlit display has 1280×800 HD resolution and IPS(1) technology to ensure games, websites, e-books and all visuals are clear and vibrant. The 16:10 display is the ideal format for video, and users can enjoy up to 7 hours battery life(3) when viewing 720p video. It runs on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradeable to Android 4.4 (KitKat).Design to be seen
The Acer Iconia One 7 comes in a wide-array of delightful color options(2) to suit any lifestyle including, but not limited to, red, white, black, blue and pink. The rear case features a sophisticated textured pattern that gives it a unique look and feel while also providing anti-slip properties for a comfortable and reliable grip. The slim profile of the Iconia One 7 not only makes it stylish, but also easy to use on-the-go with a single hand. It measures just 8.9 mm (0.35 inches) thin and is a lightweight mobile companion that is fun to use and share.
The Iconia One 7 is also equipped with front and rear cameras for capturing all the most important moments, two speakers for clearer audio, and MicroSD™ card slot that allows for extended storage and easy sharing. For further storage expansion, users can take advantage of AcerCloud™ and enjoy seamless sharing of videos, photos, music and documents across multiple devices.Pricing and availability
The Acer Iconia One 7 will be available in Pan American markets at the end of June with prices starting at US$129.99; in Europe, Middle East and Africa middle of May with prices starting at €139.
Gareth is back with another round of news from the UK mobile phone and tablet scene. This week Acer debuts new devices in New York, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is unboxed, the LG G3 leaks and the first image of the Amazon phone arrives.
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