Nextbook Ares and Flexx 2-in-1 Tablets to Launch at CES 2016

Posted on 30/12/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

The Nextbook Ares 11A 2-in-1 Android tablet will debut at CES 2016 (PRNewsFoto/E FUN)

It doesn’t matter if you prefer Android Lollipop or Windows 10, as long as 2-in-1 tablets are your thing, E FUN has you covered with two of its upcoming products from the Nextbook line, Ares and Flexx, both scheduled to launch at CES 2016.

CES 2016 will surely be a launching ramp for a lot of revolutionary gadgets, but that doesn’t mean that the tradeshow is a forbidden area for more common devices, such as 2-in-1 tablets. Acting as a buffer between regular tablets and notebooks, these products seem to be the best of two worlds. While E FUN’s Nextbook detachables don’t have dual-boot abilities, there is still

The first in line is the Ares 11A, an Android 5.1 2-in-1 tablet that, as its name suggests, packs a 11-inch display with a 1366×768 resolution. Under the hood, the device sports a quad-core Intel Atom x5-Z8300 CPU, 2GB of RAM, 64 of on-board storage and an microSD port that allows you to further expand the storage by up to 64GB. In terms of connectivity, the Ares 11A features miniHDMI, microUSB, 2 USB ports in the keyboard dock, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi b/g/n. When it comes to taking photos and doing video calls, the Ares can handle both with its 2.0 MP front and rear cameras.

“We are excited to expand our Nextbook Ares tablet line in 2016 with upgraded features,” stated Jason Liszewski, managing director and VP of sales for E FUN. “The new Ares 11A was built with consumers in mind to be the right combination of features and price.”

Liszewski is definitely right about that sweet spot, as the Ares 11A will launch in Q2 2016 for $219.99, a price that will be hard to match by other manufacturers.

The Windows version of the 2-in-1 will be available in three versions named Flexx 9A, Flexx 10A and Flexx 11A. All of them run Windows 10 and are powered by the same Intel Atom CPU as the Ares. Besides that, they also feature 2GB of RAM, but only come with 32GB of internal storage that can be furthermore expanded by up to 64GB using a microSD card.

“Coming off a strong holiday season where we exceeded our sales targets, we are extremely excited to introduce new detachables powered by Windows 10, at affordable prices in 2016. Working with great technology partners, these new Nextbooks are sure to be popular as consumer interest in tablets powered by Windows 10 continues to grow,” added Liszewski.

Besides the OS and the amount of internal memory, Flexx and Ares differ in the size and resolution of their screens. Flexx 9A was built with an 8.9″ capacitative multi-touch IPS display that has a resolution of 1280×800, while the 10A packs a 10.1″ IPS panel with the same resolution. Only the 11A matches Ares’ resolution, but at 11.6-inch, it has a slightly larger diagonal.

These three 2-in-1 tablets will be equally affordable, as E FUN has announced that the 9A would cost $149.99, the 10A $199.99, and the Flexx 11A $249. As with the Ares 11A, we’ll have to wait till Q2 of 2016 to get our hands on these devices.

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Get Online Anywhere with Teclast X98 Air

Posted on 23/07/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

There’s still a great gap between modern tablets, in terms of connectivity, with some sporting 4G and others having only Wi-Fi. Getting one with 3G, such as the Teclast X98 Air, seems to be the safest bet.

Teclast’s naming scheme for their tablets seems very confusing at first, since there are three tablets bearing the X98 name. Furthermore, the confusion is fueled by the fact that the manufacturer uses Z3735F and Z3736F CPUs in these tablets. Besides the basic model, there is also an X98 Air, and an X98 Air II. The one in question has 3G connectivity via a SIM card, while the Air II can only connect via Wi-Fi. As TechTablets.com pointed out in a YouTube video, there are also some differences in the display refresh rate and cameras.

At the core of the X98 Air sits an Intel Z3736F CPU running at up to 2.16Ghz, along with Intel’s 7th-gen GPU. Those two combined ensure smooth operation under both Android 4.4 and Windows 8.1 with Bing, seeing that the tablet comes with both of them. Besides that there are 2GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM, which vary depending on the OS that you use.

As for the display, Teclast insists that it is a Retina one, but with a 9.7″ diagonal and a QXGA resolution (that would be 2048 x 1536, making it a 4:3 screen), it only has 264ppi, which is lower than Retina’s minimum of 300ppi. I’m not a huge fan of 4:3 displays, but as long as this gets the job done, I guess it’s OK.

Besides the ever-present Wi-Fi and the built-in 3G (in the form of WCDMA 2100Mhz), the X98 Air also sports GPS, which is a welcome addition, since you don’t get to see this type of connectivity in every tablet. Combined with 3G, this means that you can shoot up Google Maps (either the Android app or the website, if you’re using Windows) to find out where you are.

The other specs are common for Chinese tablets. Teclast X98 Air features a 5MP rear camera and a 2MP snapper for video calls and selfies, along with a microphone and speakers for calls under Android. The 8000mAh battery should provide up to 7 hours of continuous video playback, assuming that you’re not running any demanding apps in the background.

At $201.29, which is as much as it costs on GearBest, Teclast X98 Air has quite some decent specs, and assuming that everything works as advertised, users should have a great experience using them.

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PIPO X8 Packs Windows in a Tablet-TV Box Hybrid

Posted on 20/05/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

It’s not unheard of to hook up a tablet to a TV via MHL, but the PIPO X8 takes thing a little bit further by actually incorporating a tablet into a TV box that connects via HDMI to the telly.

Experimenting with designs and form factors is not always a bad thing, as some of the most popular All-in-One devices must have been created that way. However, a tablet-TV box hybrid such as the PIPO X8 will definitely cause some eyebrows to raise, as the overlapping features are so many, one might consider the hybrid as being redundant. PIPO is not afraid to new things in terms of design, and after delivering some of the most affordable TV boxes and Windows tablets based on Intel’s Z3735F chipset, it now moved to creating a device that combines the two previously-independent items.

There are two hardware configurations for the PIPO X8. One of them is powered by Intel’s Z3736F SoC that includes a quad-core CPU running at up to 2.16Ghz, while the other has a Z3735F clocked at 1.83Ghz. Both of them sport an Intel HD GPU. In terms of memory, this media player sports 2GB of RAM and either 32GB or 64GB of ROM.

The storage can be furthermore expanded by using an SD card of up to 64GB. All of these are more than enough for playing media both on the included 7″ 10-point multi-touch display with a resolution of 1024 × 600, as well as on larger TVs and monitors. Connectivity options abound, as there is Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, LAN, HDMI, and microUSB, so you can connect to the TV or monitor, but also to other devices.

As far as the software is concerned, the tablet/TV box hybrid runs on Windows 8.1 with Bing, Microsoft’s special version of Windows for cheap devices. A dual-OS version will also be available, and the users of this one will be able to choose to boot into Windows or Android. Giving people alternatives is great, but you have to wonder if there’s any room left for files besides these two operating systems.

GearBest is currently selling the PIPO X8 Windows tablet-TV box hybrid for $123.98, but you can get it for $107.89 if you apply the coupon code PIPOX8 at checkout. The pre-sale period ends on May 22, so chances are that the coupon expires on that day, as well. By the looks of it, this store has the dual boot version that also packs Android 4.4 besides Windows with Bing.

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ASUS VivoTab RT review: everything you loved about the Transformer tablets, but with Windows

Posted on 26/10/2012 by Dana Wollman

ASUS VivoTab RT review everything you loved about the Transformer tablets, but with Windows

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Read the comments on any of our ASUS Transformer Pad reviews. It doesn't matter if you pick the mid-range TF300 or the high-end Infinity. You'll invariably find someone saying, "That's nice, but can't it run Windows 8?" It's a perfectly sane request: sure, a tablet and optional keyboard dock make for a convenient setup, but how great would it be if you could use that keyboard to get work done in Microsoft Office? Ditto for the dock's USB port: being able to plug in a thumb drive is a good start, but it'd be even sweeter if you could drag and drop files, as you would on a PC.

Well, ladies and gents, you can quit your fantasizing. ASUS is ready to start shipping the VivoTab RT (TF600), and we're guessing it's pretty darn close to whatever Franken-tablet you've been dreaming up. Which is to say, it takes everything we loved about ASUS' Transformer Pads, and adds Windows RT. Like other tablets in ASUS' lineup, it has a 10-inch Super IPS+ display with claimed 178-degree viewing angles and a 600-nit brightness rating. Other tried-and-true specs include a quad-core Tegra 3 chip; an 8-megapixel, autofocusing rear camera capable of recording 1080p video; SonicMaster audio; and long battery life -- in this case, up to nine hours for the tablet and up to seven for the keyboard dock. At 8.3mm thick and 1.2 pounds, it's also about as thin and light as any Transformer Pad. Lastly, the VivoTab has NFC -- something you won't find on any of ASUS' older slates.

The VivoTab RT should be available beginning today, starting at $599 for the 32GB tablet with a keyboard dock included. A 64GB tablet-and-dock bundle will retail for $699. So is this as good a buy as ASUS' earlier tablets. And how does it compare to other Windows RT devices being offered at a similar price? Let's find out.

Gallery: ASUS VivoTab RT review

Continue reading ASUS VivoTab RT review: everything you loved about the Transformer tablets, but with Windows

Filed under: Tablets, ASUS

ASUS VivoTab RT review: everything you loved about the Transformer tablets, but with Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included (update: eyes-on!)

Posted on 23/10/2012 by Dana Wollman

In case you haven't heard, a lot -- and we mean a lot -- of Windows devices are going on sale this week. Today it's ASUS' turn to give its lineup a formal coming-out party: the company is hosting a press event here in New York City, where it just announced the dockable VivoTab RT will be available on October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model, keyboard included. Alternatively, you can buy the 64GB tablet and docking station for $699. As we previously reported, an LTE version is coming to AT&T. Finally, ASUS says it will also sell the tablet and dock individually, but we haven't yet learned final pricing for those items. We'll update this post when we do.

Gallery: ASUS VivoTab and VivoTab RT launch event

If this is your first introduction to the VivoTab RT, here's a quick recap: it basically offers everything people loved about ASUS' Android-based Transformer tablets, except it runs Windows RT instead. Like the Infinity and other recent ASUS tablets, it has a 600-nit Super IPS+ display, offering 178-degree viewing angles and Gorilla Glass protection. Other specs include a quad-core Tegra 3 chip (the new T30, to be exact), 2GB of RAM, NFC and an 8-megapixel rear camera with an auto-focusing f/2.2 lens. Then there's that keyboard dock, which has a USB 2.0 port and built-in battery rated for seven hours. (The tablet itself is said to last up to nine hours.) Finally, of course, as a Windows RT device it comes loaded with all of the same stock applications you'll find in full Windows 8 (Mail, IE 10, etc.), along with Office 2013 Home & Student. The main difference: you won't be able to install legacy Windows programs.

The VivoTab RT arrives the same day as the Surface for Windows RT and indeed, we'll be eager to compare the two, especially since pricing for the keyboard-tablet bundles is identical. In fact, ASUS sent us one to test, and you can expect a review any day now. Until then, we've embedded some press photos below, in case you're just getting your first look.

Continue reading ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included (update: eyes-on!)

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ASUS VivoTab RT tablet arrives October 26th, starting at $599 for the 32GB model; keyboard dock included (update: eyes-on!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell begins accepting orders for its XPS 10 tablet running Windows RT, prices start at $499 (updated)

Posted on 23/10/2012 by Dana Wollman

Surface isn't the only Windows RT tablet going on sale this week: Dell's XPS 10 ships on Friday, though it's actually for purchase now on Dell's site. (It won't ship until mid-December, so don't get too excited.) The tablet starts at $500 for the 32GB tablet by itself, which is right in line with Microsoft's Surface pricing. The 64GB model is priced at $600. Interested in that optional keyboard dock? (Of course you are!) Dell is selling two bundles: one with the 32GB tablet for $680, and another with the 64GB one for $780. Though the keyboard comes at a premium, especially compared to Microsoft's Touch Covers, it offers some things Microsoft doesn't -- namely, a USB port, HDMI output and a built-in battery. Whichever model you choose, the XPS 10 has a 10.1-inch screen with 1,366 x 768 resolution and a dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor clocked at 1.5GHz. And, unlike some other Windows RT tablets, this one supports both finger and pen input. Hit up the source link for more info, and check out our fresh round of hands-on shots below.

Update: As some of you have pointed out, that $499 starting price includes a one-year service plan, valued at $100. You can opt out of this plan and get the standalone tablet for $399.

Gallery: Dell XPS 10 hands-on

Filed under: Tablets, Dell

Dell begins accepting orders for its XPS 10 tablet running Windows RT, prices start at $499 (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January

Posted on 01/10/2012 by Dana Wollman

Remember those hazy days of summer when HP ran an ad during the Olympics, slipped in a a shot of an unannounced tablet and thought we wouldn't notice? (P'shaw!) Well, you can finally lay your speculation to rest, as HP just formally unveiled the mystery tab, along with a slew of accessories. It's called the ElitePad 900 and, as rumored, it's a 10-inch Windows 8 slate meant for business users, with features like pen input, drive encryption and optional 3G / 4G.

Like HP's high-end EliteBook laptops, the ElitePad has a premium look, marked by a machined aluminum back cover and 400-nit IPS display coated in Gorilla Glass. Also similar to the EliteBooks, it meets the military's MIL-spec 810G durability requirements, and can withstand three-foot drops, among other accidents. All told, it weighs 1.5 pounds and measures 9.2mm thick. Going by weight, that's more along the lines of what you'd expect from a larger, 11-inch tablet, but 1.5 pounds is still manageable, especially considering how armored this thing is.

On the inside, it runs an Atom-based Intel Clover Trail processor, buffered by up to 2GB of RAM. Like so many other systems with this kind of chip, it promises about 10 hours of runtime -- a clear improvement over similar devices packing Core i5 CPUs. Storage-wise, you'll have your choice between a 32 or 64GB SSD. The screen has a resolution of 1,280 x 800, making it the one feature likely to disappoint power users. Take a tour around the device and you'll find an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1080p shooter up front for video chats. Hidden behind a service door on the back are two slots: one for microSD cards, and another for 3G / 4G SIMs.

And how 'bout those accessories? In addition to the tablet, HP will be selling two so-called SmartJackets, cases that do a little more than just shield the device from wear and tear. One of them, for instance, has two USB ports, HDMI output, a full-size memory card slot and room for an optional battery slice. That battery, by the way, has a capacity of about eight hours, so while the case does add some heft it could be worth it if you need a PC that will last through a flight from New York to Tokyo. As for the second case, its defining feature is a built-in keyboard, which plugs directly into the tablet.

Though HP announced the ElitePad 900 today, the tablet won't go on sale here in the US until January. Hopefully we'll also get a final price as we get closer to that launch date. Luckily, we've already gotten a chance to play with it, so meet us after the break for hands-on photos and a short walk-through video detailing our first impressions.

Continue reading HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January

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HP announces the ElitePad 900, a business-friendly Windows 8 tablet arriving in January originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GammaTech rugged T7Q launches at $2k and up, promptly steals your iPad’s lunch money

Posted on 12/07/2012 by Steve Dent

For people out there doing actual work (like tech blogging, for instance), there's the need for a tablet like the GammaTech T7Q Windows slate, starting at $2,000. Standing out like an M9 tank among the daily driver tabs, the sealed magnesium unit meets military specs for environmental nasties -- while packing a 7-inch resistive-touch TFT WSVGA LCD, Intel Atom N2600 or N2800 processor, 5MP camera with geotagging, compass, gyroscope and an mSATA SSD. It can also be accessorized to the nines with items like RFID, magnetic stripe readers and GPS through an assortment of connectors and expansion slots. To top it off, there's three different lock-down methods for your your data: TPM1.2 security, built-in BIOS safeguards and a Kensington lock connector -- plus Computracing ability piled on, for good measure. Sure, this guy is intended for oil rigs and desert archaeological digs, but hauling one out at Starbucks might give you a whole new level of shabby-chic cred -- if you've got the cash.

Continue reading GammaTech rugged T7Q launches at $2k and up, promptly steals your iPad's lunch money

Filed under: Tablet PCs

GammaTech rugged T7Q launches at $2k and up, promptly steals your iPad's lunch money originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screen Grabs: Continuum scrubs the Acer off an Iconia W500

Posted on 21/06/2012 by Terrence O'Brien

Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dot com.

TV producers always think they can sneak a fast one by us and our eagle-eyed readers. Little do they realize that together we are a near unstoppable force, capable of spotting, identifying and mocking nearly every use (and misuse) of tech on TV. A tipster caught this un-branded tablet on a recent episode of Continuum and, after a little bit of sleuthing, we were able to identify it as the Iconia Tab W500. Without the company's branding it was a little tough to pick out exactly what this slate was, but the off-center placement of the Windows logo and unique looking webcam gave its identity away. Sorry Canadian television, you'll have to try harder to sneak a device by us.

[Thanks, Reece]

Screen Grabs: Continuum scrubs the Acer off an Iconia W500 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jun 2012 06:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT

Posted on 18/06/2012 by Jon Fingas

Here at its mysterious, last-minute press event in Los Angeles, Microsoft just confirmed it will sell its own Microsoft-branded Windows 8 RT tablet under the Surface badge. Measuring just 9.3mm thick, the Surface for Windows RT is built around an angled, all-magnesium VaporMg case that weighs just under 1.3 pounds, with an NVIDIA-made ARM chip powering the whole affair. Microsoft's hardware partner has also gone all-out on extra touches, such as a built-in stand, twin 2x2 MIMO antennas for WiFi, and a 10.6-inch optically-bonded, Gorilla Glass 2-covered HD display. Not unlike Apple's last two generations, there's a magnetically attached cover, but it's more than just a protector: here, it includes a full multi-touch keyboard and trackpad. As for expansion, you'll get one each of HDMI, microSD and USB 2.0 (sorry folks, no 3.0) as well as either 32GB or 64GB of storage, while software includes the usual Windows 8 accoutrements and a newly Metrofied version of Netflix. The Surface for Windows RT should arrive roughly in step with Windows 8, but Microsoft is only promising pricing "competitive" with similar ARM tablets -- and you're looking for a tablet with more grunt, you can spring for the Intel-packing Surface for Windows 8 Pro.

Be sure to check out our hands-on with the Surface!

[Thanks to everyone for the product link]

Gallery: Microsoft Surface Unveiled