Microsoft Surface with Windows RT review

Microsoft Surface with Windows RT review

When Microsoft unveiled its Surface tablets with a flashy, top secret Los Angeles event, it didn't just mark the beginning of a new (and utterly critical) phase for the history of the company. It marked the repurposing of a name that was already quite familiar to us -- though in the guise of a big table. That device lives on as PixelSense, thus putting a period at the end of one definition of the word, a definition Microsoft kindly requests we put behind us as we move on to something that is wholly different.

This new Surface device could be said to relate more closely to the active form of the word in question. That is, the verb: to rise up -- for something to appear that was not there before. It's a very apt definition for what Microsoft is doing, attempting to go from zero to hero on the tablet hardware front in just one shot. Is this, the Surface for Windows RT, good enough to erase decades of mediocre touchscreen Windows devices? Will it help Microsoft and its latest operating systems float up to the top of the tablet hierarchy? Your answers lie just below the break.

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Microsoft Surface with Windows RT review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD hitting stores starting in September with new specs in tow

Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD hitting shops worldwide in September

The Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD has made a somewhat circuitous journey across our eyes, through our hands and past the FCC's screwguns. Finally we know when you can get one, as they go on sale starting in September. The devices are already available in China, and will be rolled out to Europe next month with the rest of the world "to follow," according to Huawei. Its specs have changed since we last saw it, as it'll now feature a quad-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 processor instead of the K3 Balong CPU we saw earlier. Everything else stays the same: Android 4.0, a 10.1-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display, an 8-megapixel rear camera that captures 1080P video, and 150Mbps LTE compatibility. We've already expressed our ardor about its gorgeous screen, great aluminum body and decent performance -- if you feel the same, check the PR to see when it's coming to your neck of the woods.

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Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD hitting stores starting in September with new specs in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review

DNP Samsung Galaxy Note 101 review

Consider it the fallout from a decade-plus of reality TV, but our made-by-the-masses approach has expanded into new territory: technology R&D. Or so Samsung's very public handling of the Galaxy Note 10.1 would have us believe. Thrust into an American Idol-like spotlight at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, the still-unfinished slate, a follow-up to the pen-enabled Galaxy Note phone, was forced to perform for hordes of skeptical insiders. Sure, there was raw talent on display and we could see the promise of this 10-inch contender (we said as much in our exhaustive preview), but it was also clear the company was testing consumer waters, fishing for a vote of confidence before continuing down the development track.

Does this make Samsung's latest flagship the Kelly Clarkson of the tablet category? It's an apt analogy, if you think about it: Kelly wants to be country, the Note 10.1 wants to be a pro-designer tool, but neither are allowed. Why? Well, simply put, products sell better when they're made more palatable for a wider range of tastes. Which is why the company used MWC to gauge popular opinion before molding its untested product into something wth a broader appeal. Ultimately, that meant a drastic makeover: since MWC, the Note 10.1 has received a slot for that S-Pen, streamlined software, a quad-core Exynos 4 chip and two storage configurations: 16GB / 32GB, priced at $499 and $549, respectively.

So it now has more horsepower under the hood, that much is assured, but is that chip enough to boost the Note 10.1's mass appeal? Will savvy shoppers be able to forgive that relatively low-res 1,280 x 800 display? Will its Wacom digitizer elevate this slate past its more generic Android and iOS rivals? Or will that feature hamper its widespread appeal, attracting mainly creative professionals? Meet us after the break to see if the Note 10.1 can succeed as the multitasking everyman's go-to tablet.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mysterious 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears in Vietnam

Mysterious 10inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears

The last we heard, all notions of a 10-inch PlayBook had been shelved, with rumors suggesting that RIM wanted to concentrate on its BB10 plans and next-gen smartphones instead. However, we've just received these images from Tinthe, showing off something that looks very much like the bigger BlackBerry slab. A handful of photos, comparing the tablet to the existing 7-incher and an iPad, were sent in by forum member quang3g, who appears to be involved in BlackBerry sales.

Looks-wise, the hardware's largely unchanged, aside from the bigger footprint and a screen ratio that appears closer to the iPad competition, rather than the widescreen shape that arrived on RIM's first tablet. According to the brief teardown shot, there's a potent 7,250 mAh battery housed in the still-slim 10-inch frame, while it's worth noting that the tablet also includes a SIM holder and cellular radio -- though there's not enough meat here to discern whether it deals in 4G or 3G (HSPA+) radio waves. While we wait for the official word on the existence (or cancellation) of this flavor of PlayBook, you can take a skeptical sideways glance at several more pictures of the tablet at the source below.

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Mysterious 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook appears in Vietnam originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Transformer Prime TF700T showing ‘in stock’ at Office Depot, days before scheduled US release

ASUS Transformer Prime TF700T showing 'in stock' at Office Depot, days before scheduled US release

July 16th? Why wait? A full three days prior to the previously scheduled US release date, ASUS' Transformer Prime TF700T is showing as "in stock" right now from Office Depot. For those who've managed to forget about it's amenities since its original unveiling some six months ago, this one's packing a 10.1-inch (1,920 x 1,200) display, Android 4.0, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11b/g/n, 32GB of internal storage and NVIDIA's Tegra 3 keeping the gears turning. As expected, $499.99 is the asking price, with an estimated delivery of "Just as soon as shipping partners get back to work next week." Oh, and scalpers -- it's limit two per customer. Just a heads-up.

[Thanks, Tony]

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ASUS Transformer Prime TF700T showing 'in stock' at Office Depot, days before scheduled US release originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 20:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS’ high-end Transformer Pad TF700 is coming to the US next month for $499 and up

DNP ASUS' highend Transformer Pad TF700 is coming to the US next month for $499 and up

The last time we heard from ASUS, the company was on a tear at Computex, unveiling Windows 8 device after Windows 8 device. Looking back, it seems quaint that its mobile lineup was so recently dominated by Android tablets -- and that the Transformer series was once regarded as unique for having detachable keyboard docks. But this week, at least, it's back to Android for ASUS: the company just announced that the Transformer Pad Infinity announced back at Mobile World Congress is finally going on sale here in the US. It's expected to hit shelves the week of July 16th, starting at $499 for the 32GB model and $599 for the 64GB version. Like other Transformer tabs, the accompanying dock will sell separately for $149.

We've got a rundown of the full specs after the break, and as it turns out, we've also been testing one for the past week. So once you're done browsing those official press shots, head on over to our full review for benchmarks, impressions and many, many more photos.

Continue reading ASUS' high-end Transformer Pad TF700 is coming to the US next month for $499 and up

ASUS' high-end Transformer Pad TF700 is coming to the US next month for $499 and up originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC LifeTouch L unveiled: Android 4.0 tablet keeps it thin and light (video)

NEC Lifetouch L unveiled keeps Android 40 thin and light

Still looking for that perfect 10-inch Android tablet? Well here's another one slab aiming for your wallet. NEC's latest attempt is the LifeTouch L and lands in 16GB and 32GB sizes, with a business option (with unchanged hardware) on the sidelines. The consumer-facing models are set to arrive on July 5th, with a dual-core 1.5GHz processor running the Android 4.0-based show and despite a 10-inch (1280 x 800) display, it all weighs in at a gentle 540 grams (19 ounces). The tablet also slims down to just -- and we mean just -- under 8mm, or 7.99mm (0.31 inches) to be precise, putting it below even the svelte Toshiba Excite 10. If the substantially heavier 45,000 yen ($570) price tag doesn't make you balk, there's a brief product tour after the break.

Continue reading NEC LifeTouch L unveiled: Android 4.0 tablet keeps it thin and light (video)

NEC LifeTouch L unveiled: Android 4.0 tablet keeps it thin and light (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storage Options pads out its budget ICS slate lineup by two

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We know, we know. More Android tablets. But if you're in the UK and looking for a budget Ice Cream Sandwich slate with reasonable specs, you might want to listen up -- Storage Options has added two Android 4.0 tablets to its already-crowded lineup. The 8-inch Scroll Engage, at £130 ($200), slots between the existing 7-inch Excel and 9.7-inch Extreme models, with the same Cortex A8 1.2GHz processor and 1024 x 768 resolution. However, the eight-incher packs new Mali-400 dual-core graphics and doubles the RAM to 1GB. The bigger 9.7-inch Elite matches these, but totes a larger IPS panel at the same resolution, alongside 16GB of storage -- twice the amount found on the existing Extreme. A slightly heftier £200 ($305) price tag seems to be the only other difference between the two tablet siblings. So, before ponying up those pounds sterling, hit up the sources to suss out all your options.

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Storage Options pads out its budget ICS slate lineup by two originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review

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When we review a second-generation product there are certain things we tend to take for granted: this new thing, whatever it is, will be thinner, faster, longer-lasting, maybe even with more bells and whistles in tow. With Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1, though, it's a little less obvious why its sequel is here. It offers near-identical specs, including a 10-inch, 1280 x 800 PLS display, dual-core 1GHz chip, 1GB of RAM and a minimum of 16GB of internal storage. What's more, this generation is slightly thicker and heavier, and sheds the LED flash that used to sit on the back side. But there's one detail we haven't mentioned yet: in addition to softening the specs, Samsung dropped the price by about hundred bucks, so that it now starts at $400.

Clearly, then, the 10.1 has evolved into a mid-range tablet, whereas it used to be the best Samsung had to offer. That's good news for penny-pinching shoppers, but Samsung has a bit of a problem on its hands: it's jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire, dodging direct competition with the new iPad, only to find itself competing with a raft of affordable tablets made by Acer, ASUS and even Apple. So how does Samsung's warmed-over 10.1 compare? Can it be a winner in the mid-tier category, at least? Let's see.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Iconia Tab A510 review

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We'll stop just short of quoting Top Gun here, but if it's speed you crave, these next thousands of words could have you emptying your wallet. How's that for an opening line? To be honest, it's been quite some time since any of us Engadget editors booted up a brand new device and immediately let loose a stream of expletives -- all expressing unbridled delight, of course. Such was the beginning of our meet-cute with Acer's Iconia Tab A510, the company's first Tegra 3 slate, and the second to ship with Ice Cream Sandwich.

Apart from that 1280 x 800 TFT LCD display, this 10-incher looks, feels and performs nothing like its predecessor, the A500. Turbocharged with that quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM, this Android 4.0 tablet joins a crowded category with a generous 32GB in built-in storage and a reasonable $450 price tag to match. So, does that excellence lose its luster with more extensive use? Is your money better spent on any of the other umpteen tablets running ICS? Will the lack of a higher-quality display prove too much of a con for your exquisite tech tastes? Follow on as we probe the A510 for answers.

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Acer Iconia Tab A510 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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