Tag Archives: risk

Aug 12

The ThinkPad Windows 8 Tablet: A Benchmark Is Born

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One of the things that has really troubled me about Windows 8 is the lack of a benchmark hardware product. Windows 8, unlike any other version of Windows since the very first version, is dramatically changing the user interface and is attempting to move the desktop from the mouse as a primary interface to touch. you may still use a mouse from time to time, but Windows 8 anticipates a time when you either won’t use it at all or won’t use it as much.

This puts entire classes of products at risk. Laptops with TrackPoint or those that lack large, flush multi-touch touchpads need not apply. most desktop systems will need a great multi-touch touchpad or new touch monitor (and multi-screen becomes problematic for both); all-in-ones get more attractive but even the existing touch all-in-ones are using technology that isn’t good enough, and if you have a Media Center PC, you may be truly screwed.

Windows tablets, which should be the easiest to upgrade, have historically been expensive, heavy and not particularly attractive. that is why the announcement of the ThinkPad Tablet 2 for Windows 8 has me excited, because it showcases what appears to be the ideal Windows 8 configuration.

iPad Match

The iPad is a netbook with benefits. The only reason folks got excited about it is that they saw it as something new and different and not for the very limited product it was. Basically, it is an iPod Touch with a bigger screen; it isn’t a MacBook tablet. Now for consumers this is fine, but that creates problems for businesses that have to run security software, manage devices and run real productivity applications like Office and Photoshop. they also needed stylus support because they were best at forms and were often deployed to replace paper with a more secure and more connected alternative.

However, the typical Windows tablet weighs in at over twice the iPad’s weight, has about a third of the battery life and costs about 3 times as much. The cost of the old Windows tablets in money, portability and capability was just too high and folks really didn’t want to use them.

So what was needed was something that could do what a laptop could do and match the iPad.

ThinkPad Tablet 2

I thought this was impossible but Lenovo stepped up. with the possible exception of price (which isn’t disclosed yet), the ThinkPad Tablet 2 is a full-featured Windows tablet in that it runs the x86 version of Windows 8 and all of the traditional productivity applications. It will take a stylus (an extra cost option), allowing it to handle forms and replace paper, and it will run a full suite of security and management software. It will even support multiple displays so this could replace your laptop. I have little doubt that Lenovo will also match a wireless ThinkPad keyboard to this at some point because the firm is known for its best-in-class keyboards.

At 1.3 pounds it actually weighs less than the iPad (1.44 lbs); at 9.8 mm it is almost as thin as the iPad (9.4mm likely the cost of the digitized screen); at 10 hours of battery life it appears to match the iPad; and while I doubt it will match the resolution of the iPad’s Retina display (another cost of the digitizer), Lenovo typically does a better job of screen coatings, so I’ll bet it works better outside or in bright light.

It hasn’t announced price yet and, typically, a product as full featured as this one would cost between 50 percent and 100 percent more than a more limited product like the iPad, but I know Intel has been working really hard to reduce this substantially this round, so fingers crossed.

Wrapping up: The Windows 8 Gold Standard Emerges

So pricing aside, the ThinkPad Tablet 2 for Windows 8 has emerged as the gold standard for Windows 8 tablets and Windows 8 is designed primarily as a tablet operating system. we are still waiting for the ideal Windows 8 laptop, all-in-one and desktop configuration to emerge and there may never be an ideal non-all-in-one desktop.

It is kind of interesting that I think the best hardware configuration for Windows 8 laptops in the market is currently the MacBook Pro and that we have yet to see an ideal Windows RT tablet showcased. But the season is still young and this is just the start of the Windows 8 rollout. I expect we’ll have some major surprises, hopefully mostly good ones, before the launch and year are over. If this were the Olympics, Lenovo gets a gold medal first for its ThinkPad Tablet 2.

The ThinkPad Windows 8 Tablet: A Benchmark Is Born

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Jul 19

Google Nexus 7: First look

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The Google Nexus 7 should change your opinion about Android tablets.

From the moment you take the Nexus 7 out of its box it’s clear that this device is going to be a significant game changer in the tablet market. it sells from just $249 in Australia, but its build quality compares to rival (and in most cases, inferior) devices that fetch well over $500. the screen is superb, perhaps lacking the true clarity of the iPad when it comes to super fine text, but the iPad is significantly more expensive, starting at $539. the Nexus 7, again, can be bought for just $249. yes, two hundred and forty nine dollars.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, the Nexus 7′s low price is really the killer feature of this tablet. the critical factor here is that the build quality really defies the low price tag. the Nexus 7 may be a cheap Android tablet in terms of cost, but it’s not anywhere near cheap in terms of quality.

We particularly love the soft feeling plastic on the back of the Nexus 7. the small indents printed all over the rear make it look and feel a little like leather. more important than looks, the material makes the Nexus 7 comfortable to hold. This is a tablet that’s easy to use single-handedly without the risk of it slipping out of your hands. further, its light weight makes it a perfect device for reading books and the smaller form factor means it can fit in places where bigger tablets can’t, such as the inside pocket of your suit jacket, or in a ladies handbag.

There will be an ongoing debate between the validity of 7in tablets versus larger 10in tablets. in my opinion, however, the Nexus 7 is near perfect for portability. We’ve mentioned books, but the Nexus 7 is also great for reading magazines, playing games and browsing the Web. For more productive tasks, like editing documents, or taking long sets of notes, you’ll probably prefer a larger screened tablet.

I’ve only played with the Nexus 7 for a few hours, but there are a few touches that simply make it a pleasure to use. It’s software is Google’s best yet. Android Jelly Bean, the latest iteration of Android is smooth, slick and fast, with no evidence of any lag or slowdown during use.

Not long after I turned on and set up the Nexus 7 for the first time, I received a software update to Android 4.1.1, which claims to improve performance. a big advantage of opting for the Nexus 7 over rival Android tablets is these software updates. regardless of what model Nexus 7 you own, you’ll always receive the updates as soon as Google makes them available. other Android tablets, like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 7.7, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime and Toshiba’s Tablet AT270 are currently stuck on older software versions of Android. some may not ever see the latest updates.

The Nexus 7 isn’t a perfect device. the home screen won’t rotate into landscape mode, even though many Android apps will. Google seems intent on encouraging users to hold the tablet in portrait mode, except when viewing multimedia content. While the natural tendency is to hold the Nexus 7 this way, we would have appreciated a bit of flexibility.

There’s no rear facing camera to take photos on the Nexus 7 and the front-facing camera for video calls is of very poor quality. it works in apps like Skype and Tango Video Calls but the quality is best described as lacklustre. There’s a very handy app in the Play Store called Camera Launcher for Nexus 7 that allows you to use the front camera to take photos, but again, the quality is poor.

There also remains an issue with many Android apps. Most apps haven’t been designed specifically for tablet use. This means many apps won’t work as well as they should on the Nexus 7. some won’t work at all. there are examples both ways. the excellent Flipboard media aggregator, the Pulse Reader app, Pocket and Evernote all work fantastically well on the Nexus 7. On the other hand, the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Spotify work, but there are instances where it is painfully obvious these apps were designed for a smartphone rather than a tablet.

We’ll be publishing a full review of the Google Nexus 7 in the coming days.

Google Nexus 7: First look

Jun 22

Lenovo opens subsidiary in Indonesia

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China-based PC manufacturer Lenovo has officially launched a subsidiary company in Indonesia in a bid to strengthen its foothold in Indonesia’s PC market.The second-largest PC manufacturer in the world is currently ranked number four in Indonesia, with a total market share of 7.7 percent last year, according to Lenovo Indonesia president director Sandy Lumy during a press conference on Friday.“Indonesia dominates 35 percent of Lenovo’s market in Southeast Asia and we are planning to increase our market share in Indonesia from 7.7 percent to 10 percent this year,” Sandy said, adding that the subsidiary company had been operating since April 1 at Wisma 46 Kota BNI in Jakarta.he said that with the new company, Lenovo could cut the delivery time of products imported from China, from six weeks down to only four weeks.“We usually conducted the labeling and pre-shipment inspection in Singapore, a process that can take up to 10 days, which was very time consuming. Now the process takes place in China, and the products are directly shipped to Indonesia,” he said.he added that with the new subsidiary, Lenovo would assume the risk of the fluctuating rupiah for Lenovo’s retail and business partners.“The new office will aid Lenovo’s transactions with business partners in Indonesia as they will now be able to buy and sell our PCs in rupiah. they can also pay for products once they have arrived, whereas before, they had to pay for them prior to shipping,” said Sandy.one of the most highly anticipated products from Lenovo is its IdeaPad Yoga ultrabook that was first introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this year. The Yoga, which has a thickness of 16.9 millimeters, weighs only 1.47 kilograms and can be flipped to a 360-degree angle and thus transformed into a tablet, costs US$1,199.However, Sandy was reluctant to disclose when the ultrabook would be launched in Indonesia.“One thing is for sure, we are aiming to reach all sectors in Indonesia, not only the premium segment,” he said.according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), Indonesia’s PC market reported a growth rate of 8.6 percent with 1.37 million computers shipped in the fourth quarter last year. The data also showed that by the end of 2011, there were 5.38 million PCs traded, which represented 7.5 percent year-on-year growth.“With the growth in total sales of PCs in the country, we saw a great opportunity and we are aiming to attract more retailers and add more service centers in order to boost our sales in the country,” said Sandy, adding that Lenovo currently had five retail chains and 66 service centers in 30 cities around Indonesia.The data from the IDC also showed that the shipping of PCs into Indonesia during the fourth quarter last year was dominated by the Acer Group (25.2 percent), followed by ASUS (16.3 percent), Hewlett-Packard (10.7 percent), Lenovo (7.7 percent) and Toshiba (7.3 percent). (nad)

Lenovo opens subsidiary in Indonesia

Jun 19

Guide to Easily Root Toshiba Thrive AT100 on ...

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The ability to root or modified the device is one of the benefits that most android tablets and Android smartphones users were enjoying. Now, if you are rocking a Toshiba Thrive AT100 with Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb installed, then you will be glad to know that you can easily root your device by following the instructions posted below. Yes, this trick works on both U.S. and Canadian version of the Toshiba tablet. Check out more details after the break.  

As we all know, the Fastboot have a great success rate in rooting the Toshiba Thrive AT100. however, Toshiba patched the exploit in their software update to prevent users from rooting their device. But rooting is now possible on Toshiba Thrive AT100 with the help of dalepl and TurnYourBackAndRun who created a new script was created to easily root any U.S. or Canadian version of the Tablet. Check the step by step guide posted below:

Note: Rooting will probably void the warranty of your device. Please proceed at your own risk. We at Androidet.net will not be responsible for any damage cause to your device.

Guide on how to Root Toshiba Thrive AT100 on Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb

Step 1: Before anything else, it is always recommended to backup all of the important data of your device so that you could easily retrieve your files if the rooting process goes out of hand.

Step 2: Ensure that you have a fully recharged battery, or else, your device will automatically shut down in the middle of the procedure.

Step 3: Enable USB Debugging feature of your device. you can do this by navigating to Settings -> Developer Options.

Step 4: Navigate to this link to download Universal easy root tool then extract the downloaded tool and save it on your desktop.

Step 5: then open the folder named usb adb drivers and run the USB_ADB_Drivers_Eng_Multi_x86_x64.EXE as administrator and install it.

Step 6: Connect your Thrive A100 to the computer via USB.

Step 7: Once connected run the Universal_Easy_Flash_Tool.bat.  a command prompt window will pop-up to provide you with some information.

Step 8: you will be prompted some options to root, unroot, or flash custom recovery to your tablet. Then select the first option (“Root your device”) by typing “1″ at the prompt and then hit Enter.

Step 9: Once prompted, locate your ROM’s build number or version from the list and follow the on screen instruction and wait for the root process to start.

Step 10: on your tablet, tap on APPS on the main screen and select Superuser.  you will see version information about the Superuser app.

Step 11: then close dialog, tap on the wrench icon.

Step 12: Scroll down and look for Su binary [version number].  Tap on this line.  The updater screen opens and displays the message Current version already installed.  No action required.

Step 13: Lastly, tap on the Update Anyway button.

That’s it. Your Toshiba Thrive AT100 is now rooted. you can now flash custom ROMs, scripts, or kernels on your device. Enjoy!!!

Guide to Easily Root Toshiba Thrive AT100 on Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb

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Jun 06

Jailbreak iOS 5.1.1 now!

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Here we go, another dandy jailbreak resource for you iOS-loving boys and girls.

iOS 5.1.1 is a week young and has been beautifully jailbroken by the Redsn0w jailbreaking tool. This little jailbreak is for A4 devices only, so new iPad and iPhone 4S users will have to wait a little bit longer for that iDevice hacking goodness we all know and love.

What we love about Apple’a new OS releases is that jailbreakers such as MuscleNerd have to keep playing a game of catchup in terms of security updates. This ensures that new jailbreak methods become faster, easier to apply and more authoritative in the eyes of the hacking community. MuscleNerd’s tweet advises iPhone 4S and new iPad users to stay the hell away from the jailbreak.

iOS 5.1.1 is out…jailbreakers beware!Owners of iPhone4S or iPad2/3 should stay away from it!

— MuscleNerd (@MuscleNerd) may 7, 2012

Anyway, it’s time for the jailbreak. as usual, this is done at the user’s risk. Gearburn holds no responsibility for bricked hardware/corrupted software. Before you begin, it’s good practice to backup the iPhone on iCloud or iTunes.

Jailbreaking A4 iDevices with iOS 5.1.1

It’s a fairly vanilla patch and users who’ve experimented with Redsn0w shouldn’t be too worried about the outcome. This is a five minute jailbreak at best. We’re also taking it that the non-A5 iDevice in question has already been upgraded to iOS 5.1.1

  • Grab the latest Windows or Mac Redsn0w release
  • Get the corresponding iOS 5.1 IPSW from this site. yes, for the jailbreak the iOS 5.1.1 IPSW is ignored
  • Open Redsn0w, click “extras” and then “select IPSW”. Load iOS 5.1 IPSW into Redsn0w
  • At the homescreen, click “jailbreak”. Ensure that the “install cydia” option is selected

Boom. done. Redsn0w requires the iDevice to be in DFU mode, but these steps are easily performed in the software itself. when the phone has successfully booted into DFU mode, it’s going to reset once or twice and lines of code are going to scroll down the screen. This is totally normal, so don’t freak out.

Protip: this is a tethered boot, which means that if the iDevice has been reset, it’s going to need to be re-jailbroken. This is easily done by opening Redsn0w, clicking “extras” and selecting “just boot”. If our super-simple instructions are too much for you, this dandy video will also do the trick.

The jailbreak is successful if the Cydia store icon pops up on the iDevice. If the Cydia icon is white, reset the iDevice and run the “just boot” in Redsnow. What you do from here, is up to you.

Jailbreak iOS 5.1.1 now!

Mar 22

Asus Releases Transformer Prime Bootloader ...

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As promised, Asus today released a bootloader unlocking tool for its Transformer Prime tablet.

The tool is available for download via the Asus support website, but Asus warned that those who do take advantage of it will “no longer be covered under the original warranty.”

Back in January, Asus started rolling out the Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” update to the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. but a complaint among the modding community was the locked bootloader on the Transformer Prime. As one user in the XDA Developers forum noted, “Asus has Encrypted the bootloader on the prime with a 128 bit Encryption [which is] basically impossible to crack!” Tech enthusiasts wanted bootloader access for a variety of reasons, but the powerful quad-core, 1.4-GHz processor on the Transformer Prime made unfettered access to this tablet all the more appealing.

Last month, however, Asus warned that “users who choose to root their devices risk breaking the system completely.” Still, the company said it understood the desire for the unlocking tool and pledged to release it soon.

The download will only be supported on tablets that have been upgraded to ICS.

The company, meanwhile, said it will be unveiling new products at next week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but had no other details.

For more, see PCMag’s full review of the Asus Transformer Prime and the slideshow below.

For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.

For the top stories in tech, follow us on Twitter at @PCMag.

Asus Releases Transformer Prime Bootloader Unlocking Tool

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Feb 03

Official Ice Cream Sandwich build leaks for ...

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Nexus S owners were among the first to get an official update to Ice Cream Sandwich, direct from the source at Google – at least, those with the GSM model were. Owners of the CDMA-equipped Nexus S 4G have had to be content with community ROMs and other unofficial fare ever since December (and boy, haven’t they let us know). good news, Nexus faithful: a leaked ROM of Android 4.0 made its way to XDA in the wee hours of the morning. It appears to be the real McCoy, even sporting Android 4.04 – which isn’t even part of the official source code yet.

Adventurous ROM flashers can download the package now to try it out on their CDMA phones, either via the Odin application or the mod-friendly Clockworkmod Recovery method. It goes without saying (but we’ll say it anyway) that the risk is entirely yours – make a backup first! all the standard features and user interface enhancements seem to be in place in Ice Cream Sandwich, though it’s hard to tell what’s changed in version 4.04 as compared to previous builds. that being the case, you can expect carriers to start the over-the-air update for the new software any day now.

Counting the Nexus S 4G as a separate phone from its GSM counterpart, that gives us three devices that have seen over-the-air ICS updates directly from Google: two Nexus S models and the Motorola XOOM. A further two have gotten official updates from their manufacturers already, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime and the Huawei Honor. various early official builds have been leaked (notably the Samsung Galaxy S II with TouchWiz) and of course dozens of devices have community-authored ROMs built from open-source Android code.

Story Timeline

[via Android Police]

Official Ice Cream Sandwich build leaks for Samsung Nexus S 4G

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Jan 18

How to Root and Install ClockworkMod Recovery on ...

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If you’ve upgraded your Motorola XOOM to Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich from Android 3.x Honeycomb, you’d know that the upgrade has revoked root privileges on your device. Is it possible to regain root access on your Motorola XOOM that’s now running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich?

Yes, it is possible. In this article, you will learn how to root your Motorola XOOM running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and install ClockworkMod Recovery (if you have not done so as yet when you upgraded the device to Android 4.0.3).

As usual, use this guide at your own risk. do not hold us responsible for any damage arising from your use of the information in this guide.

This guide assumes that your Motorola XOOM doesn’t have ClockworkMod Recovery installed on it. ClockworkMod Recovery will be used for rooting your device. that being said, here are what you need to get started:

  • Install the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to your computer. you can install ADB if you install the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) to your machine. Follow the official instructions here.
  • You will also be needing fastboot.exe, along with adb.exe (which will be available after you install the Android SDK). If you could not find fastboot.exe in any of the folders where the Android SDK is installed, download fastboot.exe from here and save it within the same folder as adb.exe.
  • ClockworkMod Recovery Image for Motorola Xoom
  • Rooting files for the Motorola Xoom

First, you’re going to flash ClockworkMod Recover to your tablet, then flash the rooting files to it via ClockworkMod Recovery. Here’s how to do all that:

Congratulations! you now have root access on your Motorola XOOM running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. you can now enjoy full ownership over your device.

How to Root and Install ClockworkMod Recovery on Motorola XOOM Running Android 4.0.3 ICS

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Dec 31

No More Netbooks for Dell: Another Device Down

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The world’s third largest PC manufacturer is pulling back on the manufacturing of netbooks.  Dell said it would stop selling the Inspiron Mini netbook lineup just two weeks after dropping the Dell Streak tablet line as well.  It looks like Dell’s focusing on thin and powerful machines (Ultrabooks), which is the only category of mobile computing world that seems to be holding up and where there is still room for profit.

The problem is that it is a shrinking niche for certain types of PC users. For manufacturers, it’s very easy to lose interest in a smaller market, especially as consumers broaden their computing devices to include smartphones and tablets.   Sales are at risk, and Dell wants to focus more on the tablets and the ultra-books (Apple Air-like notebooks). However, the Latitude netbooks, aimed at the corporate market, are still available on the company website.

Netbooks were extremely popular in 2010, but lost its popularity in the competition with tablets. furthermore, there is increasing competition from Ultra-Books. Apple’s iPad, Samsung and HP tablets and other Android based tablets began serious inroads to reach consumers’ pockets this year.

“We sold through the Dell Mini some time ago. We’re committed to the highly portable space and have focused on delivering thin plus powerful solutions for which we’ve seen strong success, particularly in our XPS line,” said Matthew Hutchison, director of Dell Global Consumer PR.

Smartphones and tablets have really left their mark on the netbook market.  Last week, Samsung had decided to discontinue the production of the 10-inch netbook models. But for Dell, this is about more than just netbooks; it’s about striking the right balance for all its device production.  Back in August, Dell killed the Streak 5 tablet, one of the smallest versions of Android tablets available, and earlier this month they also discontinued the production of Streak 7 inch tablet.

Dell is now focusing more on providing high quality and high performance computing devices such as products like its recently introduced XPS 14z and the XPS 15z. But Dell sees the demand of PC market is going to continue to weaken, especially in the short term where there’s a shortage of hard disk drives due to the recent Thailand flood and tsunami.

In countries like India, the consumer sentiment is hampered by economic uncertainties and sharp fall of currency. “We are seeing lower off takes [in PCs] pretty much across the board, said Mahesh Bhalla, executive director and general manager at Dell’s India unit. “We see this trend continuing over the next few months.”

Dell reported forecasting revenue at the lower end of its outlook for 1% to 5% growth for the fiscal year, mainly due to industry-wide hard drive issue caused by disruptions due to the flooding in Thailand.

No More Netbooks for Dell: Another Device Down