Cisco to Release the Cius Android Tablet

At the CiscoLive event held in Las Vegas this past Tuesday, Cisco announced that they will be releasing their Cius 7-inch Android tablet, but they have not said when or what kind of price tag they plan to put on it.

The Cius will be the first Android tablet that is being specifically designed for business. Cisco says that they are using their newest technology that they have designed for mobile business needs. The Cius will have the ability to take 720p video and utilize the Cisco Telepresence solution. It will come standard with Cisco Quad, Cisco Show and Share, WebEx, Presence, and an instant messenger app.

Kara Wilson, the vice president of UC and collaboration solutions marketing for Cisco said, “Cisco Cius delivers on our vision of bringing the next wave of collaborative experiences to our customers. It will fundamentally change how your workers, executives and managers will go about their day, ushering in a new era of productivity.”

The tablet measures 7-inches and weighs about 1.5 pounds. Inside the Cius is a 1.6 Ghz Intel Atom processor, 32 GB of internal memory, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and a 3G/4G connection. The tablet will run a Mozilla browser, but the company has not named who will be the cellular carrier.

The Cius can be used as a regular tablet or also as part of a docking station. The chief executive of Cisco, John Chambers, also unveiled a smaller version of the Cius that will be more targeted at students.

Cisco says, “You can slowly migrate to cloud computing by deploying business tablets to executives, sales representatives and knowledge workers and then expand mobility across your entire enterprise. Instead of bringing employees to where the work is, you can bring the work to where the employees are.”

I can’t wait to see the Cius in action. It has some great features that you can’t find on just any tablet. I just hope that Cisco doesn’t take to long to release it or that the price tag is too ridiculous. The Cius will just be something that we’ll have to wait and see about.

If you’re looking for a tablet now and don’t want to wait on the Cius, check out the Sony Dash or Apple’s iPad.

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The New Kno Tablet

On Wednesday at D: All Things Digital another tablet made an appearance. This tablet is going to be targeted mainly at students and should be launched at the end of the year. It is being called the Kno.

The Kno is a touch-based device running on a Linux operating system. It is comprised of 14-inch dual screens with each screen featuring 1440 x 900 IPS display. It weighs about 5.5 pounds and has up to 6 to 8 hours of battery life. This amount of battery life may seem impossible for a dual screened tablet, but the CEO of Kno, Osman Rashid, said that each screen will have their own battery pack.

The Web-based operating system that the Kno will run on has been specifically designed around the use of touch. Rashid said, "We are not going to try to retrofit something, we are going to build it from scratch."

Kno is based in Santa Clara, California. It has 90 employees that have been working on the Kno tablet for about a year now.

As I said before, Rashid is targeting the Kno at students. He doesn’t feel that it will replace a laptop, but that it is a much more portable device to bring to class. He said, "We believe the laptop is becoming the new desktop," he said. "It is going to stay in your dorm or in your home. This is all you need to carry around."

Kno has not yet settled on a price for the tablet, but they are certain that they want it to cost well under $1,000. It will be interesting to see more details about the Kno as its release date draws nearer.

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The Sony Dash: True Tablet or Not?

So Sony has decided to dive somewhat into the tablet industry but not completely. The Dash has a tablet-like appearance and many of the same functions, but it is not exactly as portable as tablets like the iPad.

The Sony Dash has a pretty basic structure. It features a seven-inch touchscreen, stereo speakers, a snooze bar/menu button, volume buttons, a USB port, a headphone jack, and of course the power connection cord. The case that encompasses the Dash is made of a rubber-like material that allows you to get a good, secure grip on the device.

The biggest problem that I see with the Dash is the fact that it does not have a battery. This means you can’t just carry the Dash around. You are constricted by the fact that it must be plugged into an outlet. Sony says that there next version of the Dash will have a battery, but that makes me wonder even more why they didn’t just put a battery in the version that is out right now. I feel that having a battery would definitely elevate it to complete tablet status.

So we’ve discussed the external side of the Dash, but what’s exactly inside of the device? The Dash has a 500MHz processor and 256MB of RAM. Having this type of power under the hood allows for video playback, but it isn’t exactly enough to be considered extremely fast. The touchscreen is responsive, but the OS seems to lag behind at times.

The Dash runs Chumby OS with a custom Linux build. Now not many people have heard of a Chumby OS. I know that I had never heard mention of it before, but it is simply a Flash runtime that features Chumby widgets that Sony calls Dash Apps. There are over 1,000 Dash Apps. Now, with the Linux side of things, Sony added the capabilities to utilize Bravia Internet Video Streaming that allows for apps from Netflix, Pandora, Slacker, Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, and a variety of other providers.

The Sony Dash is being called “an amped up alarm clock” by reviewers at engadget, and honestly in comparison with Apple’s iPad, that’s really all it is. Every action is easier to perform on the iPad, especially since the iPad has the option of using an external keyboard. Also the fact that the iPad is portable gives it a huge up on the Dash, and the iPad’s OS doesn’t lag behind. Now, it is $300 more that the Sony Dash, so that is something to definitely consider.

So it is your decision whether or not you think the Dash meets your needs. It’s only $200, and it does perform a decent amount of satisfactory actions. It’s an interesting approach to the tablet industry by Sony, but I think that they will most definitely do better with the Dash once they install battery capabilities.

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An Affordable Convertible Netbook Tablet from Lenovo

Many different companies make a variety of different types of netbooks, but not many have adopted the convertible tablet netbook that has been emerging recently. This is probably because is can be a very costly netbook to design and manufacture. Convertible tablets are comparable in weight and size to an ultraportable or thin and light laptop. They look pretty much like a traditional laptop except for the fact that the screen swivels 180 degrees and can fold flat over the keyboard of the laptop. You can utilize a convertible tablet netbook to navigate menus, documents, and Web pages all through the touchscreen.

It’s the rotating hinges and the touchscreen display that jacks the price of netbooks like this up. Pricing is one of the reasons that these netbooks have had trouble taking off, but Lenovo is now offering the IdeaPad S10-3t, which is one of the first reasonably priced convertible tablets to be made available to the public. If you’re at all interested in convertible tablets, the S10-3t is definitely one that you should look into if you aren’t interested in putting out $1000 or more.

I personally thought that the design of the S10-3t was very intriguing. It’s a little bit thicker and longer than most 10-inch netbooks, but this is necessary to accommodate the swivel hinge and the touch panel. The netbook weighs in at 2.9 pounds and comes standard with a 4-cell battery. Many may not like the plain design of the S10-3t, but I thought that it fit the netbook. It features a shiny black top without any fancy detailing.

I find the swivel touch screen to be extremely fascinating. When you rotate it the full 180 degrees, you can then proceed to lay the screen down flat against the keyboard of the netbook. How cool is that? Although many could say that this function is very similar to that of Apple’s iPad, the advantage you have with a convertible netbook is that you have the luxury of a keyboard whenever you want it which can come in handy. The screen on the S10-3t is 10-inches and features 1,024 x 600 resolution. When utilizing the touch feature, you solely use your finger, just like for the iPad or the iPhone. You can use one finger to navigate the screen or use two to pinch and enlarge photos and documents. Due to the fact that the S10-3t’s touchscreen is designed for you to use your finger, it does not feature the handwriting recognition capabilities that some tablets that use a stylus have, but it still performs every other function that you could need.

The keyboard on the S10-3t is almost full size and is very responsive. The netbook’s other features also include: 2 USB ports, a VGA port, an Ethernet port, an SD slot, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, 250GB of hard drive, a 1.83GHzAtom N470 processor, 2GB of memory, and Windows 7 Home Premium. A lot of these features can’t be found on most netbooks, so I was impressed.

I really feel like this is a deal if you’re looking for a convertible netbook. Lenovo ships the S10-3t out for $650. This is incredible, as most convertible netbooks start around $1000. I think with all of the features and the impressive price tag, Lenovo has hit a home run with the new ThinkPad S10-3t.

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HP's New Core i7 Business Laptops

Hewlett Packard has announced that it will be updating several of its business laptops. The new models will be thinner and lighter, feature the latest Core i5 and Core i7 chips, and they are even creating the company's first multi-touch tablet for professionals.

The Elitebook 2540p is an update to the 2530p. At just a little over an inch thick and with a weight of 3.4 pounds, it's the most portable EliteBook so far. The 12.1 inch laptop has a newer Intel processor than its predecessor, that operates at standard voltages. It can be configured with the with the 2.40GHz Core i5-520M, 2.53GHz Core i5-540M or 2.6GHz Core i7-620M. This is something other companies are lacking. Dell doesn't currently offer a 12-inch or smaller laptop with Core i5 or Core i7 and while Lenovo does, they are only available with the low-voltage versions.

Battery life could end up being a problem for the laptops, but HP claims the battery life will range from four hours (3-cell battery), to eight hours (6-cell battery) to ten hours (i-cell battery). Another potential problem is that an internal optical drive can only be configured if you go with the slower 1.8-inch hard drive. But the EliteBook 2540p will start at $1,099 and will be available for purchase in April.

The EliteBook 2740p is an update to the 2730p. The convertible tablet now supports multi-touch. It has a 12.1-inch LED-backlit display, Core i5 and Core i7 processors, and Intel graphics. It's a little thicker and heavier than the 2730p, at 1.3 inches and 3.8 pounds. It can't be configured with an internal DVD drive, but HP says it will offer an optional display for outdoor viewing. According to HP, the battery lasts for about five hours and an optional HP 2700 Ultra-Slim battery will increase that to eleven hours. It will be available in April and will start at $1,599.

HP has also redesigned its ProBook small business series of laptops, which includes the 13.3-ProBook 4320s, 14-inch ProBook 4420s, 15.6-inch ProBook 4520s and 17.3-inch ProBook 4720s. The new ones have a brushed-aluminum metal case and has the latest Core processors (i3, i5, and i7). The laptops in the ProBook series will start at $719 and will be available later in March.

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Do You Really Need an Apple Tablet?

If you visit any tech websites regularly, you probably know Apple is getting ready to unveil its new iTablet computer. Rumors and speculation about the computer's details have been going on for weeks, especially lately. Most people are anxiously awaiting to get their hands on the device. After all, it is Apple and everything that comes from the company is darn near perfect, right? Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but you know how Apple fans are.

Turns out not everyone is excited about tablet. ABC reporter David Francois has come up with a list of reasons as to why you shouldn't rush right out and get one when the time comes. For starters, the iTablet will have a short battery life. If you have an iPhone or a current slim MacBook, you know exactly what to expect when it comes to the battery. This means keeping the device that is supposed to be ultra-portable plugged in more often than not.

If you can get past the battery life, you may not be able to get past the lack of comfort. You can't hold it in your hand like an iPhone and you can't rest it in your lap like a laptop. You can't adjust the screen - it IS the screen - and it doesn't have a rubberized back. Also, tablets have surprisingly been around for about 20 years but as you might have noticed, they haven't exactly caught on. Sure, the technology is better this year than it was in say, 1995, but you dont hear people talking about how much they want to run out and get a tablet.

So, you don't care about comfort, battery life, or popularity? Fine, but why do you even need the device? You've already got your laptop, netbook, and cell phone. The tablet won't do anything those things don't already do. Maybe it will end up with some tablet-specific apps but in the long-run, unless you're just a gadget-freak, what purpose will it serve to have one? Make that a gadget-freak with a big budget. Rumor has it the tablet is going to have a 3G data connection that's definitely going to cost you.

Personally, I'd say wait until the device comes out before you decide whether or not to buy one. Apple didn't get where they are by making brainless moves and who knows what they have in store, but so far, the tablet isn't winning me over.

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Apple to Unveil New Tablet

In an effort to dominate yet another aspect of technology, Apple has revealed that it will be producing a new tablet later this year. The new tablet, said to be competitive with netbooks and e-readers, will likely retail for anywhere from $600 - $1,000. While the hand-held device won't be revealed until later this month, people are already anticipating it and making all kinds of speculation, all over the internet. Rumor has it, the tablet will be on the market, sometime in March.

As devices that can both surf the web and play movies and music become more popular, the tablet may be coming at a very good time. According to BusinessWeek.com, the tablet would be a competition for both e-readers such as Amazon's Kindle and netbooks from companies such as Acer and Hewlett Packard.

According to Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co, Apple could see 1.4 million of the devices by the end of 2010, increasing company sales by two percent or more, depending on the finalized price of the product. "Apple's tablet would compete well in the netbook category, even though it would not be a netbook," said Munster, who expects software to be one of the keys to making the Apple tablet stand out against the competition.

Another bit of speculation is that the new tablet will be app-friendly, meaning it will work with the over 100,000 apps available for iPhone. Kathryn Huberty, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, says she expects the tablet to be ten inches with touchscreen and built-in Wi-fi. She also expects the product to take e-books and magazines a step further by making them an interactive experience that will provide users with links to videos such as author interviews, photos, audio, websites and advertising.

Maynard Um of UBS AG suspects the new tablet could be like an oversized iPod touch...or like a scaled-down notebook computer. It has been said that Apple expects to ship 10 million tablets within the first year of release. Former Google executive Lee Kai-fu says he's spoken with someone familiar with the product and that it will look like an oversized iPhone with its 10.1 inch multitouch screen with three-dimensional graphics.

But the truth of the matter is, no one knows for sure. A spokesperson for Apple says the company will not comment on speculation and rumors. Luckily we won't have to wait too much longer to find out just what Apple has in store for the world of handheld devices. Steve Jobs is set to reveal the tablet later this month.

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New Apple Tablet

Steve Jobs is back to work at Apple, just months after having a liver transplant, and sources say he is spending most of his time focused on the company's new tablet device. According to the Wall Street Journal, the team of people working on the tablet are under much scrutiny from their company's CEO. The article also states that this is the third attempt at the tablet, the first one failed due to a low battery life, the second one due to insufficient memory. Jobs, himself, has confirmed that most of that information is correct, but didn't specify any details. There is still no word on when an Apple tablet might actually become available to the public or what kind of impact it will have but if the success of Jobs' last pet project - the iPhone - is any indication, the tablet could change the way many people view technology.

There have been many rumors about the Apple tablet in recent months. Some say a September unveiling is in the works, others say November and some say not until 2010. A report from Barron's claims the device will be marketed for mostly media play (with an Apple TV tie-in) and gaming. Regardless of when and what, there is no doubt the rest of the industry is waiting to see what exactly Jobs and Apple have planned.

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New tablet pc/netbook with a detachable screen

The company Always Innovating has just released a new netbook that has a fully detachable screen that transforms the netbook into a stand-alone tablet.

The Touch Book truly looks amazing and innovative. It will come preloaded with a linux OS, and it will be the first netbook based on an ARM CPU, have an average battery life of 10-15 hours and $299 without keyboard, $399 with.

The NetBook/TouchBook or what ever else you want to call it will also feature a magnetic back so that you can mount it on a fridge. It also feautures a hinge that not only allows you to detach the screen, but also to swivel I completely around so that you can mount it up when you are for say on a plain and you can also swivel the keyboard all the way around so that it is hidden behind the screen.



Also make sure to watch the video to hear more about Always Innovating’s latest Touch Book, also there is a wonderful accent that is o so enjoyable to listen too!

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