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Jul 30

Lenovo IdeaPad U310 Review – Watch ...

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The ultrabook revolution of 2011 has become a deluge in 2012, which means one thing: lower prices. If you were hunting for a reasonably thin Windows laptop with good battery life at a reasonable cost, you couldn’t have picked a better time. the Lenovo IdeaPad U310 is a perfect example: it’s an update of sorts to the IdeaPad U300s, one of the first Windows ultrabooks we reviewed last fall that carried a MacBook Air-like $1,195 price tag. this time, the cost is a mere $799 — but, with some compromises made along the way.

The IdeaPad U310 is a different machine: it’s got a significantly heavier and thicker chassis and a standard magnetic platter-type mechanical hard drive instead of a solid-state drive (SSD). However, its internal specs are very good, with a third-gen 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and all the ports you’d need (Ethernet, USB 3.0, SD card reader, HDMI). It’s still an ultrabook by definition, but not quite as sleek a product.

It’s a pretty similar package to what the identically priced Sony Vaio T offers, although the Vaio T is lighter and has a better battery life. It’s also similar to what the new Dell Inspiron 14z offers, although the Inspiron 14z also has dedicated AMD graphics.

(Credit:Sarah Tew/CNET)

So, where does that leave the IdeaPad U310? It’s not a bad deal for what’s under the hood, but the U310 doesn’t feel as surprising as last year’s U300s. Nor is it. It’s really the smaller cousin of the IdeaPad U400: a MacBook-like Lenovo laptop with a good keyboard, a solid set of features, and a pleasing design that could make an excellent back-to-school computer. Students should look into the IdeaPad U310, especially if it’s on sale. You might want to comparison-shop the growing landscape of affordable ultrabook-alikes at the time of purchase and see if you can do better, but the bottom line is this: be happy. Ultrabooks have larger hard drives (without SSD), and are cheaper than ever. That’s a good thing.

Price as reviewed $799 Processor 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U Memory 4GB, 1,333MHz DDR3 Hard drive 500GB 5,400 HDD Chipset Intel HM77 Graphics Intel HD 4000 Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) Dimensions (WD) 13.1×8.8 inches Height 0.7 inch Screen size (diagonal) 13.3 inches system weight / Weight with AC adapter 3.68 pounds / 4.2 pounds Category ultrabook

At 0.7 inch thick and 3.68 pounds, the IdeaPad U310 is thin and light, but not quite as thin and light as other 13-inch ultrabooks. It’s somewhere between “normal” 13-inch laptop and ultrabook, and feels more like the former. It’s heavier than the Sony Vaio T ultrabook, and lighter than the new Dell Inspiron 14z.

Unlike the sleek, black IdeaPad U300s, the U310 is both whitish and candy-colored. its larger cousin that it looks the most like is the IdeaPad U400, a machine that was closer in size and function to a 13-inch MacBook Pro. the U310 is more backpack- and small-bag-friendly, but also ditches the slot-loading DVD drive in the process.

(Credit:Sarah Tew/CNET)

You’d better get used to hearing, “Hey, you’ve got a new white MacBook!” because you’re going to hear it a lot at coffee shops. the IdeaPad U310 is MacBook-like, and there’s no way around it. Sure, the outer wraparound Aqua Blue aluminum on the lid and underside (also available in Graphite Gray and Cherry Blossom Pink) is distinctive, but open the lid and the white surfaces, black raised keyboard, and large touch pad — even the bezel around the screen and keyboard — practically scream “MacBookalike.” the anodized, colored-aluminum exterior sandwiches the slightly off-white plastic interior when closed, giving the laptop a two-tone look and a booklike profile.

It’s a comfortable laptop to use, too: the palm rest is spacious, the multitouch clickpad gigantic, and the keyboard nearly as excellent as most Lenovo keyboards.

Why nearly? Because the keyboard’s not backlit, and the keys themselves have an ever-so-slightly lower-quality feel compared with the high bar of ThinkPads. It’s still good, but I found keys not registering every once in a blue moon, and the column of keys on the right side makes the Backspace key very hard to locate by touch. to make matters worse, the keyboard exhibited some flex on our review model. at least the function keys are reversed (the media-control buttons for volume and screen brightness work without the Fn key held down).

(Credit:Sarah Tew/CNET)

The very large touch pad is the same size as that on a MacBook, but not as good. Pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling are less instantly responsive and more prone to jumpiness. Chalk that up less to Lenovo than to Windows 7.

The audiovisual experience on the IdeaPad U310 is similarly adequate but not outstanding. A glossy 13.3-inch screen has an utterly normal 1,366×768-pixel resolution, but is prone to screen glare. the screen isn’t all that bright at its highest setting, and off-axis viewing angles are poor. It’s fine for a budget computer. the stereo speakers are louder than you’d expect from an ultrabook, but sounded hollow and flat when playing back music or movie trailers.

On the other hand, the included 720p Webcam looked sharp via the preinstalled Cybervision YouCam software.

Lenovo IdeaPad U310 Review – Watch CNET’s Video & Read Our Review

Jun 18

Is it a laptop? A tablet? Whatever, PC makers just ...

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June 07, 2012 By James Niccolai and Michael Kan | IDG News Service

One thing apparent at Computex this week is that computer makers really aren’t sure what users want in a PC, and they’re throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks.

There might never have been such a wide variety of computer styles on display as there are here in Taipei. Many use Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 8 OS, or the Windows RT version for ARM-based processors. others run Google’s Android software, though that OS has been less visible this year than last.

[ Among the offerings at Computex: AMD chases Intel Ultrabooks with Trinity laptop-tablet hybrid. | also on InfoWorld: Intel, ARM trade barbs over Windows 8, RT. | Understand how to both manage and benefit from the consumerization of IT with InfoWorld's "Consumerization Digital Spotlight" PDF special report. | Subscribe to InfoWorld's Consumerization of IT newsletter today. ]

There are laptops with screens that twist and fold in every direction, some with touch screens and some without. there are 7-inch tablets and 10-inch tablets, and tablets that come with attachable keyboards and others that don’t. The line between a tablet and a laptop has almost ceased to exist.

There’s an all-in-one PC with a large monitor that can be unclipped and carried like a giant tablet, and other monitors that can be turned on their side in portrait mode. There’s a smartphone that snaps into a tablet that snaps into a keyboard, turning the whole thing into a laptop.

The products are made possible by better, cheaper components, by the new touch interface in Windows 8 and by Intel’s Ultrabook formula. but they’re also driven by a sense of urgency among PC makers, desperate for a hit product that can outrun the iPad and revive their fortunes.

“We were expecting to see a lot of experimentation at the show and we got it,” said IDC analyst Brian Ma. It’s probably good for consumers, who get to vote with their wallets to decide the winners. but many designs will surely fail or be relegated to niche markets. Charles Darwin would be impressed.

One of the more inventive companies is Asustek Computer, which popularized the netbook a few years ago. Asus Chairman and impresario Jonney Shih had more surprises at a news conference Monday. one was the Taichi, which looks like a standard Windows notebook, except that when the lid is closed the outside can act as a second, touch-screen display, so the device becomes a tablet.

It’s not bulky, either; Asus says the Taichi is as light as its Zenbook. and when the lid is open, the inner laptop screen and the outer tablet screen can be used simultaneously, so people sitting opposite each other can both view what’s on the display. It could be useful for presentations and sales pitches, or it might not be useful at all: Time will tell.

Also unusual was Asus’s Transformer AiO, which looks like a normal, all-in-one PC but has detachable, 18.4-inch touch-screen that can be used as a wireless display. more unusual, at the push of a button the display can switch from Windows 8 to Android, becoming “the world’s biggest tablet,” as Shih put it, carting it across the stage under his arm. unfortunately, the screen froze during his demo and he had to move on.

Is it a laptop? A tablet? Whatever, PC makers just hope you'll buy it

Jun 04

AMD To Launch Hondo CPUs for Windows 8 Tablets

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AMD is set to unveil a new set of processors based on the Bobcat architecture called Hondo that will target Windows 8 tablets as the release date of Microsoft’s forthcoming operating system approaches.

Hondo – which will be released in Q4 – will be manufactured using a 40nm manufacturing process and will target Intel’s Clover Trail-W Atom processors with a power consumption figure of up to 5W.

Acording to Monica Chen from Digitimes, AMD will release Tamesh processors that will replace Hondo by next year with an architectural leap from Bobcat to Jaguar with a jump expected in terms of performance and power consumption.

We expect x86 players like Intel and AMD to face some serious competition from ARM manufacturers like Nvidia, TI and Qualcomm who will push multi form factor devices (includes tablets) on the market thanks to Windows RT (Windows on ARM).

AMD tablets on the market are far and few. The only notable launch over the last couple of years was the Acer Iconia W500 which had an AMD chip with Windows 7 but was way too expensive and heavy and had a poor battery life.

Source : Digitimes

AMD To Launch Hondo CPUs for Windows 8 Tablets

May 10

Toshiba's new Satellite laptops to use ...

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IDG News Service – Toshiba on Tuesday announced Satellite laptops starting at US$399 that will have upcoming processors from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, which are due to become available in the next few months.

The Satellite L-series and C-series mainstream laptops will come with screen sizes ranging from 14 inches to 17.3 inches, Toshiba said in a statement. the laptops are affordable, thinner and lighter than previously comparable models, the company said.

The most affordable laptops are the C800 models, which start at $399, while the three models in the L800 series start at between $449 and $599. the laptops will become available early in the third quarter, Toshiba said.

The laptops will use Intel’s new Core processors code-named Ivy Bridge and AMD’s upcoming chips code-named Trinity. the chips contain significant improvements that will make the laptops faster than current systems with Intel’s second-generation Core processors or AMD’s A-series chips.

Acer has measured generation-over-generation CPU performance improvement on Ivy Bridge of more than 20 percent, while the graphics are about 30 percent better. AMD claims a 25 percent faster CPU performance and a 50 percent improvement on graphics with Trinity compared to current A-series chips.

Other PC makers are expected to roll out laptops with the new chips, and Toshiba’s new laptops will help set the stage for another chapter in the ongoing chip battle between Intel and AMD. Intel claims better chip performance, while AMD has said it will undercut Intel on price and enable more affordable laptops.

Intel will dominate the PC chip market, though AMD will put up a good fight, said David Daoud, research director at IDC.

However, with buyers showing a preference for tablets over PCs, Intel and AMD also have to worry about ARM, Daoud said.

ARM chips are already found in most tablets and could make their way into the PC market depending on consumer demand, Daoud said. ARM-based chip makers Nvidia and Qualcomm have said they are targeting the PC market.

The Toshiba laptops will include webcams and HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) and USB ports. some Satellite L-series configurations will have Blu-ray Disc drives and allow users to charge USB devices even when a system is powered down. some C-series laptops will offer 500GB of storage.

Toshiba also announced Qosmio X875 and Qosmio X875 3D laptops for enthusiasts that will use Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors and Nvidia’s latest graphics GeForce 670M graphics processor. the laptops are priced at around $1,299 and will become available in the early part of the third quarter.

Agam Shah covers PCs, tablets, servers, chips and semiconductors for IDG News Service. Follow Agam on Twitter at @agamsh. Agam’s e-mail address is agam_shah@idg.com

Toshiba's new Satellite laptops to use upcoming Intel, AMD chips

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Apr 11

#On Sale Acer Extensa EX4420-5963 AMD Athlon 64 ...

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4.0 Out of 5 Stars (4 Customer Reviews)   Reviews for Acer Extensa EX4420-5963 AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57 2.0GHz 160GB 2GB 14.1″ Crystalbrite WXGA DVD-RW Vista Home Premium LX.E770X.013 (Personal Computers) this laptop was a “hand me down” so to speak and its main function was so family/guests could use it to go online to avoid the unpleasantness that goes along with visitors tampering with personal files or accessing other sensitive data. it was only recently that the CPU fan in my regular laptop took a nosedive so I had no choice but to use this one as a fill-in. I have to admit this laptop is not shy when it comes to delivering on productivity. Observe it from a side view and you find that the keys are ergonomically laid out with a gentle “V” shaped curve from end to end so that your fingers fall naturally into place without having to keep your arms too close to your side. my IBM thinkpad and my acer netbook do not have the keyboard laid out this way so, for those who tend to type as fast as I do, typos are more frequent. One of the other things I fell in love with was the manual scroll button between the left and right click buttons. I like this feature so much I wish it came standard on all laptops. Other little productivity perks are all over such as the euro ( which fails to show up after i publish for some reason) and “$” symbols featured as standard keys without having to press the shift or combination of function keys. After a few minutes of use everything felt natural as if I had been using it for much longer and grown accustomed to the feel. The speaker performance was more disappointing than usual but I’ve grown to expect very little from all laptops alike in that area. this brings me to my real issue with this laptop and it may seem absurd to make such a big deal out of it but it’s the one thing I can’t seem to get past. IT PRODUCES WAYYY TOO MUCH HEAT even from a few seconds after you power it on. it also doesn’t help that the heat is exhausted via the rear and not the side. I think even in winter climates this laptop would make your “lap area” uncomfortable. I think that it’s time that a “lap heat” benchmark test be introduced so laptops can be rated by how comfortable it is when you actually use it on your lap as intended. I’m using it right now to write this review with a sofa cushion under it and I can still feel insane quantities of heat on my thigh. Reviews for Acer Extensa EX4420-5963 AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57 2.0GHz 160GB 2GB 14.1″ Crystalbrite WXGA DVD-RW Vista Home Premium LX.E770X.013 (Personal Computers) I’ve had this computer for 1 year and 2 months now. it was great for a little over a year or so, but then it started having this problem where it wouldn’t start up when I hit the power button. it would start to power up, but then it would just shut down. After a few tries, it would start up properly, but this is pretty worrisome. also, I don’t think it started out this way, but the fan is REALLY LOUD. Reviews for Acer Extensa EX4420-5963 AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57 2.0GHz 160GB 2GB 14.1″ Crystalbrite WXGA DVD-RW Vista Home Premium LX.E770X.013 (Personal Computers) I have had my acer for 4 years now. it has been a great computer!! I am running out of memory, BUT I am also using it as a home business computer so it has ALOT on it. Customer Reviews

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Feb 17

Acer Iconia Tab W500 – Hybrid with Promise

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The Acer Iconia W500 is a new breed of tablet (hybrid tablet) that offers netbook and tablet features in one unified device. but how does this tablet stand up in the world of tablet devices that is pretty much dominated by the iPad?

What are the reviews saying?One way to get a sense of how its doing is to check out reviews from sources you trust. you should not only look at the various features and specs of the device, but you should also consider how previous users and technology experts rate the device. this is not a be-all-end-all type strategy but hopefully this should give you a good idea whether or not this tablet is the device that best suits your preferences as well as your expectations. Hybrid device the Acer Iconia Tab W500-BZ467 is a 10.1 inch tablet that can convert into a netbook with a full size chiclet keyboard. this hybrid device runs on an AMD dual-core processor C-50 and uses a Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. the device also includes dual 1.3 MP Acer Crystal Eye webcams with 1280 x 1024 resolution. in addition to Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities, the tablet also has two USB ports and an Acer PowerSmart 3-cell Li-polymer battery that provides four to six hours of power. Those who put stock in good screen resolution (who doesn’t) may also like the sharp images and rich, vivid colors that make the smooth multimedia playback come to life. the device is also compatible with HDTV with an HDMI output. if you plan to carry your tablet/netbook on the go, the device is lightweight at only three and a half pounds and the design is meant to be sturdy enough to help it stand up to the demands of travel. How does it compare Many users tend to enjoy this device and claim that it is definitely on par with other well-known tablet devices in features. some laud the tablet because of its touch screen capabilities. However, some users say that the device works better with a Windows 8 system, but of course this upgrade will cost more. still, there are users that agree that the device does everything it is supposed to for its $500 price tag, lower than many other tablet devices. There are also a few users who claim that the keyboard is not as efficient as it could be. There are also claims that the battery life is much less than what the manufacturer claims. furthermore, there are users who say the device is too heavy for reading or watching films and video. For others, the device appears more as a laptop. However, many users appear to like this tablet overall as it suffices as a tablet. Innovate, innovate, innovate really, what its going to come down to is how much you are willing to spend versus the features that are needed. Acer has been making reliable computers for years so there is some brand recognition here. but is that enough? and, frankly, I wonder whether Windows 7 is a hindrance or a boost to the tablet as compared to something like Honeycomb (previously) or Ice Cream Sandwich that now comes on the Asus Transformer Prime. One thing is for sure, as users, and manufacturers for that matter, figure out how to move tablet computing from more of a consumption device to a productive device, innovation will continue to surpass current technology – which is exciting, allowing for new ways to get the job done. Which also means, that we will probably continue to see hybrid type computers continue to hit the marketplace.

Acer Iconia Tab W500 – Hybrid with Promise

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Jan 31

ARM Version of Windows 8 To be Seeded to ...

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Windows 8 beta version for the x86 version of hardware is about to release in less than a month along with the Windows Store.As we all know Windows 8 is going to be released not just for the x86 versions but also for the ARM based hardware devices like the one which was showcased at CES 2012 when Texas Instrument’s demonstrated Windows 8 on a tablet running on ARM based OMAP 4470 processor.

Now as Reported earlier by CNET ,the ARM version of  Windows 8 beta will be seeded to the developers by next month according to their sources who had a hands on with high-profile device from a major PC maker,they also went on saying that the version feels more stable than ever before.

The final version of Windows 8 for ARM would be released on the similar timeline with that of x86 counterpart,according to the sources,also suggesting that the Windows 8 ARM based devices will be priced lesser than their Intel and AMD based counterparts.So we will see an intense battle amongst the manufacturers when the final version releases later this year worldwide on variety of hardware including desktops,laptops and tablets.

ARM Version of Windows 8 To be Seeded to Developers By February

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Jan 27

Challenges Ahead for Windows 8 on ARM

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One of the most anticipated technology events in 2012 will be the commercial release of Microsoft‘s Windows 8.  Microsoft not only wants to demonstrate their commitment to the Windows PC platform but also show that they can provide deep levels of innovation in new platforms like tablets and convertibles.  Microsoft must also demonstrate to many that they can compete on many fronts with Apple, Google and Amazon on platforms, apps and services. Microsoft turned over every stone possible in their planning stage, eventually deciding to make a very huge hardware change in supporting the ARM processor architecture, a major departure from PC Windows platform exclusivity with X86, namely Intel and AMD.  With risk comes return, but only if one mitigates the risk.  What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Windows 8 on ARM architecture, aka WoA, will face many hurdles which will need to be quickly overcome  to successfully position it.  If not, it will be very challenging for Microsoft, ARM, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, their customers and their retail channels.

BUILD Conference and the Developer Preview

Let me start by giving a little background starting at Microsoft’s BUILD conference.  I personally attended Microsoft’s developer conference, called BUILD, last September.  It was one of the most informative and exciting Microsoft events I have ever attended, and I have been to many in the last 20 years as an OEM customer and as a hardware partner.  Microsoft communicated with confidence and clarity a level of detail I had never seen before, which really gave me confidence that Windows 8 was headed in the right direction. I have loaded Windows 8 Developer Preview on almost 10 X86 PCs and so far I am very impressed with build quality, speed, and compatibility. I have heard the same from many respected name in the industry.  There was no Developer Preview for ARM SOCs that attendees could take home with them, and there are good reasons for it.

ARM Incompatibility with Legacy X86 Applications

So what does this mean?   That Office 2010 someone bought for $120-350 or that Sims 3 Pets game you bought for $29 in September of 2012 will not run on a ARM-based Windows 8 tablet or notebook. This doesn’t mean that WoA platforms won’t have applications; they will.  Microsoft has gone great pains to develop a new application development environment where developers can write new Metro Windows 8-based applications using a new and slick Visual Studio developer app.  That doesn’t change the fact that none of the legacy apps will work.

I’ve heard the argument that none of this matters because consumers only care about new apps and that they don’t care about old apps.  Examples like the iPad and Kindle fire are given. The big difference is Windows, and what it infers.  Windows stands for compatibility and being able to use legacy peripherals and apps.  While I can probably count the number of $350 iOS apps on my toes, many exist for Windows.  Some won’t care, but for the buyers who are OK throwing out their old software library and starting over will buy a Windows 8 device with an Intel or AMD X86 processor.

Lack of Windows on ARM Desktop Means Lack of “Rich” Applications

Windows 8 for X86 has two operating modes, “Metro” and “Desktop” mode.  Metro is the tiled based interface designed to work best with direct touch, and for that matter voice and Kinect-like air-gestures.  Desktop mode is exactly that, just like the Windows 7 desktop. Microsoft has confirmed that Windows on X86 will ship with both modes, Metro and Desktop.  Microsoft initially showed WoA systems at BUILD, then a few months later, you stopped seeing any WoA systems with the Desktop tile.  I did not see the Desktop tile on systems at Nvidia, Texas Instruments, or Qualcomm venues at CES.  At Nvidia’s Tegra 3 event, Microsoft was on stage demoing some awesome WoA systems and it did not have a Desktop tile either.  With this, I think it’s safe to assume that neither Microsoft nor its OEMs will be shipping WoA systems with Desktop functionality.  This is probably a good move if I place myself in Microsoft’s shoes.  Their biggest area of pain right now is against Apple and Windows 8 Metro plus ARM will help them attack Apple and they don’t necessarily need Desktop to do that.  With Intel’s Medfield and the 22nm Tri-gate Silvermont follow on, Microsoft can enable a super low power Metro and Desktop platform.  Net-net, Microsoft doesn’t need ARM to support Desktop because they now have Intel and Medfield.

The biggest implication of this is that WoA systems will not be able to develop what Microsoft calls “rich” apps, or those with “chrome” and a lot of functionality.  Microsoft’s Jensen Harris did a fantastic job at the BUILD event describing the design principals of Metro and what it means to today’s “rich” apps. The “rich” apps are the ones that work best with a keyboard and mouse with a dense layout of tools and information and have precise layouts of multiple Windows.  Jensen used examples like today’s Photoshop and software development tools as examples of “rich” apps.  I think today’s Office 2010 fits into that “rich” category as well.   look at all that chrome and dense layout!  Metro apps are about the content, about being fast and fluid, with lots of white space and keep out zones and beauty, not about 50 different functions on one page.  So net-net, WoA developers will be able to build Metro apps, but they will not have an option to develop “rich” Desktop apps.

I’ve heard the argument that says, “rich” apps are yesterday and the apps of the future are like Metro.  To some extent they are right, but if you were around when the market moved from DOS to Windows, you know if took years to make the switch.  Many enterprises still use DOS-based apps in a shell today. just like many consumers fought moving from DOS to Windows, many will fight moving from Desktop to Metro.  There are differences between then and now.  The biggest difference is that on WoA systems, users won’t be given both, they will only be given one choice, Metro.  Secondly, there isn’t a good way to make a dense layout work on Metro.  Some will be OK with it, some won’t.  Those who won’t will buy systems based on Intel or AMD.

Challenges Ahead for Windows 8 on ARM

Jan 25

CES 2012: Hands On With Windows 8 Metro Apps

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When Microsoft’s first app store for Windows 8 opens its doors online at the end of February, what will turn up inside? How are those beta Metro UI apps coming along? TabletPCReview picked up some hints through hands-on demos of emerging Metro apps on Kupa’s Intel x86-based tablet, along with news emanating from sources in a variety of other corners of CES in Las Vegas.

Despite the expected availability of ARM tablets based on chipsets from companies like Qualcomm and NVIDIA, Kupa will stick with the Intel Atom Oak Trail processor for its ucpoming Windows 8 device, said mark Peng, Kupa’s deputy general manager, during a hands-on session with TPCR at the ShowStoppers press event at CES,

“Intel is a strong and solid platform,” he maintained. Peng also predicted that Metro app development wil take much longer on the ARM side due to the need to recompile the apps. “ARM is a completely different animal,” he elaborated.

Metro apps devised for Intel- and AMD-based x86 tablets should also work on x86 notebook and desktop PCs. many of the apps shown on Kupa’s tablet could well turn up in Microsoft’s first App Store, now slated for arrival along with the second built of Windows 8 at the end of February.

With the exception of a Metro UI game called Johnny Wants to Surf, and a Metro iteration of the ArtRage fingerpainting app, the apps running on Kupa’s demo unit were part of the initial set of 28 Metro preview apps bundled with the first build of Windows 8 back in September.

It’s impossible to say, though, how many other Metro apps are now in the works, or how many might be ready by the end of February. Peng also spoke highly of a GPS-enabled app known as Distance, but it wasn’t aboard Kupa’s Windows 8 demo unit.

Meanwhile, Ambient Design hasn’t yet officially announced the Metro edition of ArtRage, despite the unveiling of an iPhone edition of the app earlier this week. Earlier, xMath told TPCR that it is testing math and calculator apps for Windows 8.

Although announcements of Windows 8 apps have been scanty at CES this week, CyberLink officially rolled out three of them in the multimedia category: the PowerDVD Metro media player; YouCam Metro, for capturing videos and applying special effects; and PowerDirector, for video editing.

Quite ironically, too, Windows 8 will supposedly be able to run some 4,000 apps from Android OS via virtualization, thanks to the recently announced Blue-Stacks App Player.

In yet another announcement at CES, Windows 8 is also now set to get Tobii’s gaze “eye control” natural user interface (UI). However, the “look and tap” UI isn’t expected to enter the mainstream until at least 2013.

Hands on with Metro AppsIn the hands-ons, results were mixed with the apps running on Kupa’s tablet. Some Metro apps seemed to run flawlessly, including ArtRage, another fingerprinting app called PaintPlay, Piano, and the Memories of your Life scrapbook app.

Much fuller-featured than PaintPlay, the Metro iteration of ArtRage contains tools familiar from the iPad version. I played around with the color wheels and brushes.

Piano’s keyboard was kind of cramped on the tablet screen, but the iPad version of the app shares the same issue. still, I was able to play chopsticks (although I’m not sure how the tune would have sounded, since the audio wasn’t turned on).

Aleady existing non-Metro Windows 7 apps such as Evernote also operated fluidly on Kupa’s tablet.

On the other hand, some Metro apps — such as Measure it and Near me, another GPS app — wouldn’t even open at all. a couple of other apps crashed in progress (yet Windows 8 itself did not).

Peng, however, blamed these problems on Windows 8, as opposed to the apps. “That’s just Windows 8 bugs. Windows 8 is still subject to random crashes and other glitches,” he contended.

Hopefully, Microsoft will also add a bunch of needed bug fixes in the second build of Windows 8 due out in February, along with the first version of the app store.

Meanwhile, as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in his keynote this week, Microsoft’s first app store will contain free apps only, with paid apps to be incorporated later. This would appear to temporarily exclude apps such as ArtRage, which are paid apps on other OS platforms.

Hardware Specs and PricingHardware specs for the Kupa X11 tablet include a 1362-by-768 (720p) 10.1-inch display; and ten hours of battery life. the slick-looking tablet weighs in a 2.1-pounds.

Kupa currently sells the same touch-creen tablet running Windows 7 Professional on Amazon.com at pricing of $799 with 3G and Wi-Fi and $699 for Wi-Fi only. “We’ll add Windows 8 [to the tablet] whenever Microsoft says we can,” Peng noted.

The Windows 8 edition will also include the same fingerprint reader as the Windows 7 version. the reader, though, hasn’t yet been enabled for Win 8.

Although Kupa is based in China, its tablets are manufactured in California, according to Peng.

Peng thinks that, once it’s stable and mature, Windows 8 will carry an important advantage over Windows 7. “The advantage is that apps will run consistently across a broad range of hardware platforms, maybe even including TV,” he said.

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Jan 25

Technology News: Tech Buzz: The Rebirth of the ...

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Last week, an announcement from Lenovo got me thinking of Rory Read, AMD’s (NYSE: AMD) new CEO, who made some cryptic remarks about AMD going into ARM (Nasdaq: ARMHY) and no longer chasing Intel (Nasdaq: INTC). Now, there are a number of hybrid or crossover products that will be coming out this year, with the most interesting being a cross between a notebook and tablet. This design, and we’ll probably see some examples at CES this week, will likely be the showcase for Windows 8.

Another potential showcase could emerge as well — a product that instead of using ARM or x86 might use both, and it occurred to me that AMD may be in the best position to provide that alternative.

With these new hybrids as my focus, it only seems appropriate that I make the products announced by Lenovo my product of the week.

Our technology life today is all about ugly choices. A smartphone is a big phone that does a lot of Internet things poorly due to its size and, as a result, you can’t live on it. A tablet would suck even more as a phone and so drops that feature in favor of a better Internet and media experience, but it lacks the performance and size of a notebook. and, finally, a notebook currently lacks the portability and weight advantages of a tablet, but it is far more useful if you want to actually create something, and generally easier to use (because you don’t have to hold it) for long format media like movies.

You have to admit that even an iPad gets heavy after a couple of hours. if we add a specialized product like an e-reader, we now have up to four devices we need to carry. A typical notebook weighs around five pounds, a tablet two pounds, an e-reader a pound, and a smartphone with charger about half a pound. with chargers and accessories, we are up to the carry weight of an old gaming laptop — more than 10 pounds — and we have a mess of wires and a bunch of products that don’t like each other much.

So, we leave some of them in the office or at home. That means we don’t have the reader when we get stuck someplace, we don’t have the notebook when we have a surprise project to review and edit, and tablets are mostly used in the bedroom and living room.

Recall that back in the 1990s, we typically were happy with just a small cellphone with massive battery life and a heavy notebook that actually weighed less than the combined mess we have today.

In short, it isn’t surprising that folks appear to be trying to find that perfect device that can combine two or three of these things and simplify their lives. The Kindle Fire combined tablets and e-readers successfully, and it has sold very well. The attach rate for keyboards on iPads is reported to be better than 30 percent, suggesting folks want to leave their notebooks behind, and the Ultrabook class of products increasingly blends the weight and battery life of a tablet with the usefulness of a notebook computer.

But things are getting even more interesting this year.

There are two kinds of combined products coming to market this year. The first, which is what Lenovo announced last week, we have seen before: a tablet that effectively becomes a notebook computer with the addition of a second ARM-based platform. The second, and arguably more interesting, we’ve also seen before in the Asus Transformer and Transformer Prime products: a tablet that can transform into a notebook computer.

The problem with both offerings so far is they make compromises that users have historically not been excited about. Notebook computers either run Windows or Apple’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) OS X. Some of these products either run Android (Asus Transformer) or in the case of the notebook hybrid, Windows and something like Linux for the ARM portion of the product.

While this is still more convenient than having to carry multiple devices, the Asus products haven’t sold well, and prior efforts with ARM and x86 haven’t done well either. Finally, Windows tablets largely failed in market because the user interface wasn’t really designed for touch (and most required a stylus anyway).

Windows 8 runs on ARM and x86; in addition, it was designed for touch. This allows it, in theory, to provide a consistent UI across all configurations of both hybrid types. in short, with Windows 8, you can more easily get a combined solution with fewer painful compromises. But this is where I think it gets interesting.

As mentioned above, there are two types of hybrids: one that’s an internal hybrid that shifts internal models (ARM to x86); and one that’s a physical hybrid shifting external models (laptop to tablet). ARM and x86 technology providers tend to work poorly together, and this is where I think AMD’s opportunity may reside.

Right now, if an ARM part is designed for a notebook or an x86 part for a tablet, both are taken outside their comfort areas. like a tennis player trying wrestling or a wrestler competing in tennis, neither will be as good as they are in the areas where they’re designed to excel.

ARM is best when power is most limited, and x86 is best when performance is the key criterion. The current class of successful hybrid cars tends to have an electric engine for economy and a gas engine for performance and range. This automotive model suggests that the perfect hybrid would not only morph between tablet and notebook, but it would have an x86 processor in notebook mode and an ARM processor in tablet mode.

This would allow it to perform as well as a standalone product (with one exception I’ll get to in a moment) in either class. This is because as a notebook, it would be a full notebook — not a tablet trying to be one — and as a tablet, it would be a full tablet — not a notebook trying to be one.

AMD, with ARM, could create a blended x86/ARM offering that would be an optimized system much like the electric/gas systems in today’s hybrid cars are increasingly designed more as a system, and less as an electric engine poorly coupled with a gas engine. This would allow AMD to be well differentiated from both Intel and the existing ARM vendors and, rather than being a constant market follower, become a new market leader on top of Windows 8 — and likely become the favored core of Windows 9.

That strategy would make Rory Read’s comments make sense and, if successfully executed, create a far more interesting set of solutions and choices this decade.

Maybe we could call them Super Hybrids?

I made the ThinkPad X1 my product of the week several times last year, both when it was announced and after it became my primary carry box.

It was a predecessor to the Ultrabook class of products that we’ll see more of this week at CES. The only problem I’ve had with the X1 is battery life. even with the extended battery, it was around six hours, which meant that watching movies on a plane often gave little reserve for work on a coast-to-coast trip (typically I work for a couple of hours in the airport before leaving) unless I charged right up until boarding.

And it wasn’t enough to leave the charger in the room.

The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid has an ARM processor that allows the user to switch to the lower-powered mode for entertainment, typically one of the reasons I carry a tablet. in ARM mode, the battery life effectively doubles to around eight to 10 hours with the normal battery, and 12 to 14 with the extended battery. That is clearly tablet territory.

The custom Linux-based OS is more secure than Android, but without the Android Market, the user will be limited to enjoying media, browsing the Web, and light document editing, for the most part.

Switching modes is as easy as clicking an icon, and this will suspend an existing session when switching modes. because this product is the first hybrid/crossover product announced this year running Windows, and because this idea of a blended product will likely define 2012, the ThinkPad X1 Crossover is my product of the week. It just goes to show, you sometimes improve on perfection by adding the word “hybrid” to it.

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