Tablet PC

Asus Upgraded Variant of FonePad Now Goes Online For Rs. 17,999

by Hans Gogia • July 27, 2013

Few months back Asus launched the FonePad tablet in India for 15,999 with Intel Atom Z2420 1.2 GHz processor with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal memory which can be expanded further via microSD card up to 32GB as its technical specifications. Recently Asus refreshed this FonePad for markets like India with better specs and more memory which appeared online on e-commerce websites for Rs. 17,999.

This refreshed variant includes a 7-inch LED display offering 1280×800 pixels resolution same as that on the original model but they have upgraded the chipset from 1.2GHz Intel Atom Z2420 to the 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2460 which has the same PowerVR SGX540 GPU and 1GB of RAM. It also comes with voice-calling support on 2G and 3G cellular network. On the software front, the tablet runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box but can be upgraded to version 4.2 later when the update is available. Apart from this one major change is in the internal memory which was 8GB earlier and now has been boosted to 32GB. So users can install a 32GB microSD card slot and get up to 64GB storage on this tablet. Other features remain the same including 3-megapixel rear camera, 1.2-megapixel front facing camera, 4,270mAh battery, and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth support.

Specifications:

7inch 1280×710 pixels resolution IPS display
Intel Atom Z2460 chipset with 1.6 GHz processor
1GB RAM
PowerVR SGX540 GPU
32GB internal memory
microSD card expandble option
WiFi/3G/Bluetooth support
2G with voice calling
4,270 mAh non-removable battery
Micro sim card slot

Image Source : Indiatimes

Comparison

Comparing with the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 in India this might look like a deal with better specifications but the user base and believe in the brand shall make a difference. Let’s see what Asus can do.

Tablet PC

Google Unveils New Nexus 7 With Better Specifications

by Hans Gogia • July 24, 2013

Nexus 7 the best $200 Android tablet which was announced last year at Google I/O just got even better. Google at an press event in San Francisco today on 24/07/2013 unveiled the new Nexus 7 2.0 with better specifications at a little more price.
After the numerous leaks which were already out before Google unwrapped its latest offering manufactured by ASUS. It’s the first tablet running Android 4.3 out of the box which will be available this month.

Specifications:

Full HD display with 323 ppi
7 point touch scratch resistant IPS panel
1.5 GHz quad-core S4 Pro
Adreno 320 GPU
2GB RAM
NFC / WiFi 802.11 b/g/n / Bluetooth v4.0
1.2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear camera
Dual stereo speakers
SlimPort Support
16GB and 32GB memory
4G LTE (optional)

Pricing

The updated Nexus 7 series will be available in 16GB WiFi, 32GB WiFi and 32GB LTE variants. As for now the WiFi-only versions, the 16GB Nexus 7 and the 32GB Nexus 7 shall be available for $230 and $270 respectively, and both of them will be available on July 30th from the Play store. No confirmed date has been announced for the availability of LTE version but it will be priced at $349. Bestbuy, Staples and Amazon will also be the retailers selling the tablets offline in the US. The new Nexus 7 will be launching in the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Australia, South Korea and Spain, with more countries coming soon.

Tablet PC

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 Launch In India– Price, Hands On Review And Details

by Rohit Khurana • July 18, 2013

Samsung India has launched the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 in India on 18th July 2013 in a launch event in New Delhi India. The two devices (out of three global models) in the series which have been launched in India are the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 and Galaxy Tab 8.0 both of which come with many software and hardware similarities but they have different specifications and performance levels. The major difference between these two tablets is the display size and processors which power these tablets.

Interestingly, both these tablets run Android Jelly Bean OS like other new Galaxy devices like the S4 and Mega series. There are three models launched, the 7 inch Tab 211 with android 4.1 and 3G + WiFi and two 8 inch models (Tab 310 and Tab 311) which has been launched with a Wifi only and WiFi + 3G model. The Tab 2 have been very popular because of their good value proposition and the Tab 3 is expected to carry the same philosophy forward.

HP Announces Intel and Nvidia Powered New Generation Personal Computers In India

by Hans Gogia • July 17, 2013

Hewlett-Packard today on 17th July 2013 in India announced the launch of six new products which shall form the basis for next generation personal computers. Updated with Intel 4th generation processors and the latest Nvdia Tegra 4 chipsets, HP launched two Android and four Windows 8 running devices to provide mobility without compromising performance.

In the Android category, HP announced the HP SlateBook x2 which is a Android running tablet cum laptop. The SlateBook x2 has a removable screen which gives user an access to tablet and a notebook at the same time. With the advanced magnetic hinges and dual battery system – one in the tablet and one in the base, users can totally rely on this while on the go.

Slatebook is powered by Nvdia Tegra 4 chipset on a 10.1-inch touchscreen display which give users a pleasant experience to work with. The SlateBook x2 also includes up to 64 GB of storage and DTS Sound+ Solution for accessing and enjoying media content. The HP SlateBook x2 shall be available in India at a price of ₹39,990

Another Android powered device is HP Slate ALL-in-One which offers a 21.5inch Full HD IPS touchscreen display with wide viewing angles to enjoy music and videos with family and friends that too with the power of Android applications. HP Slate All-in-One comes with the dual-band technology which makes simultaneous media streaming and browsing at ease. It also has DTS Sound technology built-in which makes this experience joyful. It comes pre-installed with an HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Wireless Direct allowing users to share videos, photos and data between devices without the need for a network connection, and multi-user support with the latest Android OS Jelly Bean 4.2. It too is powered by a Nvdia Tegra 4 chipset maximizing performance with entertainment. HP Slate21 All-in-One is priced at ₹24,990.

Alike the SlateBook x2, HP also announced a similar tablet cum laptop with magnetic hinges and dual battery system but running Windows 8 and powered by Intel 4th generation processors. The HP Split x2 offers an sleek design with a soft-touch coating that provides a comfortable hold without being a fingerprint magnet. It features exclusive HP innovations such as a 2-megapixel HP TrueVision Full HD(2) webcam and the HP ClickPad for precise multifinger and gesture navigation. The base when connected with the tablet not only provides extended battery but also expands the storage capacity. With 13.3 inch HD display and Beats Audio, HP Split x2 gives an ultramobile solution for people on the move. The HP Split x2 is priced at ₹64990.

Windows 8 without touch is not Windows 8 and that’s why HP build an intuitive touch experience in its new product lineup.
HP announced two more Windows 8 products namely HP ENVY Rove, HP Pavillion 11 TouchSmart Notebook and HP ENVY TouchSmart 14 Ultrabook.

HP ENVY Rove All-in-One PC is the company’s first of its kind. ENVY Rove features a 20-inch IPS HD+ (1600×900) LED backlit touchscreen display with wide-viewing angles and crisp graphics. It can easily move from upright to completely horizontal for a tabletop entertainment experience. HP ENVY Rove is powered by 4th Generation Intel core processors with Intel HD Graphics and Beats Audio providing a rich immersive experience to play with. It is priced at ₹69,990.

Another entrant to this new generation lineup is the HP Pavillion 11 TouchSmart Notebook. It is HP’s one of the affordable touch notebook till now priced at ₹31,990. It features a 11.6inch capacitive touch screen display with powerful quad-core processor and graphics keeping it thin and light keeping portability in mind. It binds sophistication and style with its two-tone look that features an Ano silver lid finish which opens to reveal a midnight black metal interior.

Lastly, the HP ENVY TouchSmart 14 Ultrabook that features power with style. HP ENVY TouchSmart 14 is designed for the providing best audio output available on a PC with dual speakers, and a subwoofer. People can get upto 9 hours of battery life with incredible graphics by NVIDIA and 2GB of video memory. The product is priced at ₹64,990.

Tablet PC

DataWind Surpasses Micromax and Apple: Leads Tablet Market with 15.3% Share

by Rohit Khurana • June 5, 2013

DataWind, the maker of Aakash tablet has occupied the lead position in the supply of tablet computers in India. According to the Quarterly Tablet Market report for Q1 2013 by Cyber Media Research, DataWind has grabbed 15.3% market share, thereby surpassing Micromax with 12.3% and Apple with 11.7% market shares.

It has to be noted that the supply of 100,000 Aakash 2 tablets to IIT Bombay on May 1, 2013 is not included in the report and it comprises only of commercial sales volume.

Following this report, DataWind CEO, Suneet Singh Tuli said, “The enormous demand for our products helps validate our focus on affordability and connectivity. Unlike many in this industry that are focused on providing media tablets to the elite, our focus is to enable Indians with their first computer at an affordable price.”

He also added that, “Our flagship product, the UbiSlate 7C+, is also the world’s lowest cost phablet for only Rs.4,999 inclusive of all duties and taxes in the Indian market. In addition to WiFi connectivity, the device takes a regular SIM card, allowing the user to make calls or access the internet on its quad-band Edge modem – and with DataWind’s special web acceleration technology it allows a fast and rich internet experience, anytime and anywhere.”

DataWind has not only been recognized in the global market as the maker of low-cost tablets, but also has been awarded for its patented breakthrough web delivery platform, which will deliver a fast, rich and affordable web experience on its devices.

Additionally, Dr. HamadounToure, Secretary General, International Telecommunications Union (ITU) entrusted DataWind with the most Innovative Access Device Award at the NTA ICT World Communication Awards.

So long DataWind was selling its devices mainly through the call-centre, UbiSlate.com and via other e-commerce retailers, but, now, it has been announced that the company is planning to set up retail stores this summer to enable easier purchase.

Tablet PC

HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 Tablet with Voice Calling Launched at Rs 8,499: Specs, Features and More

by Rohit Khurana • June 4, 2013

A couple of months back, India based venture HCL launched a slew of tablets like ME U2, ME V1 and ME Y3. Now, the company appears to have expanded its portfolio with the launch of another voice calling tablet called ME Connect 2G 2.0. Priced at Rs 8,499, the tablet comes with impressive specifications and features.

In terms of technical specs, the ME Connect 2G 2.0 houses a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with a resolution of 800×480 pixels and is fitted with a 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor and Mali-400 GPU. Also, the tablet includes a 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera and packs 4GB of internal storage expandable to up to 32GB. Further, the ME Connect 2G 2.0 is loaded with a 3,800 mAh battery.

Detailing on the connectivity aspects, the HCL tablet is packed with features like in-built 2G for voice calling, 3G via dongle, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS.

On the software side, the HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 is preloaded with freebies worth Rs 2,000 and is preloaded with applications including BigFlix, Hungama, Readwhere, Paytm, Facebook, Twitter and apps from range of categories such as Games, Business, Communication, Lifestyle, Entertainment, Education, Health and more. Also, the tablet supports regional languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and more.

HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 Specifications

7-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 800×480 pixels
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS
1GHz cortex A9 CPU
2-megapixel rear camera, VGA front camera
2G, 3G (via USB dongle), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth
1GB RAM, 4GB internal memory, 32GB expandable memory with microSD
3,800 mAh battery

The HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 tablet is priced at Rs. 8,499. It is available across all major stores and online portals and will be supported by an integrated after sales service application – HCL Touch, a 24X7 one touch service facility.

With a price point of Rs 8,499 and with voice calling functionalities, HCL ME Connect 2G 2.0 will be facing some stiff competition against the likes of Salora Fontab, Lava ETAB Connect and the Micromax Funbook Talk P360 among others.

Tablet PC

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0, Tab 3 10.1 Launched, Shipping to Global Markets from This Week

by Rohit Khurana • June 3, 2013

As Asus acquired the spotlight of Computex 2013, Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab 3 in its 10.1 and 8-inch avatars. On specs front, it may not be ground breaking, but if one goes through the spec sheet of the 10.1 model one notices a dual-core 1.6GHz processor without any information of its make.

Going through the earlier rumors, it was speculated that the Galaxy Tab 3 lineup will come up with the Intel CloverTrail+ CPU and it just happens that the Intel Atom Z2560 chip is a dual-core chipset clocked at 1.6GHz, so the one used in the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 could be the same chipset.

The Galaxy Tab 3 8 on the other hand has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, which probably is not made by Intel and is likely based on ARM architecture. Other than this, both the tablets are traditionally Samsung.

The 10.1 model has a display with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels, it has a 3-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera and is available in 32GB and 16GB variants, and the memory can be expanded further via the microSD card slot. It also has 1GB of RAM and a 6,800 mAh battery and runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Samsung has really slimmed it down at 7.95 mm, and it weighs only 510 grams.

The Galaxy Tab 3 8, is even slimmer at 7.4mm and weighs just 314 grams. It also has a 1280×800 pixel display but at 8-inches it has a higher PPI than the 10.1-inch model. It has a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera. It also has 1.5GB of RAM and a microSD card slot supporting expansion by a further 64GB. Battery wise, there is an 4,450 mAh battery. Like the 10.1-inch model it runs on Android 4.2.

Samsung says, both the tablets will be offered in Wi-Fi only, and 3G and LTE (dependent on markets) enabled versions. Both the tablets will be shipping globally by the beginning of June.

“Designed to be held in one hand, the new GALAXY Tab 3 8-inch is the optimal device for viewing videos, playing enhanced games, and reading e-Books anytime, anywhere. Outstanding slim bezel for effective and maximum screen use makes Samsung’s “reading mode” technology which optimizes the display to deliver perfect illumination and tone for comfortable paperlike readability in a variety of lighting conditions work better on its 8-inch screen,” Samsung noted in a press release.