iBall partners Intel, Microsoft for Rs 16,999 tablet

Electronics major iBall today launched an Intel Atom- processor based Windows tablet, priced at Rs 16,999 as it looks to increase the penetration of affordable business devices in India.

With the latest Windows 8.1 operating system, the 8-inch tablet will come packed with free licenses, including Microsoft Office license for one year, 1 TB OneDrive cloud storage and Windows Defender Antivirus and Firewall.

It features 2GB RAM, 16GB built-in storage (expandable upto 64 GB), 5MP rear and 2MP front camera.

Toshiba's new $119 Windows 8.1 tablet could be a problem for Android

The Encore Mini – which Microsoft had initially called the Encore 7 back at Computex earlier this year – is about as basic a Windows 8.1 machine as you are likely to see. Built around a no-frills 7-inch 1024 x 600, the Encore Mini contains a 1.83GHz Intel Atom Z3735G processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage.

According to Toshiba's specs, the tablet features a micro-USB 2.0 port, a 0.3MP front-facing camera, a 2.0MP rear-facing camera, a microSD card slot, and a battery capable of powering it for 7.3 hours.

It's not going to win any medals for speed, but as a platform to run apps on, consume content, and access web-based services such as Facebook and Twitter, it's enough.

On the software front, the Encore Mini runs the lower-cost "Windows 8.1 with Bing" operating system (lower cost because Microsoft it hoping to make a return from people using its services), and comes with a year's subscription to Office 365 personal. It also comes loaded with third-party apps such as Amazon Kindle and Netflix.

The price tag on all this is a low $119. The estimated ship date is September 17.

While on first blush it might seem like cheap tablets represent a threat to more expensive Windows tablets, the real threat is to the flood of low-cost Android tablets entering into the market. The Encore Mini with it's Atom processor and 1GB of RAM doesn't have the grunt to run heavyweight applications, but it does have more than enough power to make people think twice about buying a cheap Android device, especially if they come from a Windows background.

Giving OEMs access to cheaper versions of Windows could be a game-changer as it allows Microsoft to compete on a more level playing field against Android, and gives OEMs a way to bring Windows to market on cheaper devices.

Nexus 8 or Nexus 9 Release Date, Specs and Rumours: Meet The HTC "Volantis"

Google has said absolutely nothing about the Nexus 10 2, and the idea of a larger, more premium Nexus slate now seem to have fallen by the wayside. That’s the bad news. The good news, however, is that Google is apparently working on an 8.9in slate – which may either be known as the Nexus 8 or Nexus 9 – and word on the street suggests its an absolute corker. 

The Nexus 8 name has been uncovered in the Chromium Code Review by some German developers called Florian Kiersch and Carsten Knobloch.

It doesn’t reveal any more details apart from the name, but we previously saw reports that it may be made by HTC based on rumours and similar code findings. The same code also unearthed the Nexus 6 name for the expected smartphone successor, believed to be in preparation by Google. To learn more about the next Nexus smartphone you’ll find everything you need to know here.

A lot of reliable sources are now claiming that HTC will build Google’s 2014 Nexus tablet offering. According to @evleaks the HTC Nexus tablet is codenamed Volantis or “T1″ but this isn’t all the company is working on – there are two other units under development too, going by the names T7 and T12. 

Adding further fuel to the leak-powered Nexus 8 fire is the news that an unknown HTC tablet, believed to be the Nexus 8, has passed through the National Radio Research Agency in South Korea. Now – this could just be an upcoming HTC slate, but multiple sources – including our very own sister site, PC Pro – reckon this is the Nexus 8. 

“The other bit of information we got from that leaked image was an alleged model number. The model number in that leaked image is ’0P8210000′ and we see this same number showing up in the RRA certification entry. The certification entry says this device is manufactured by HTC,” reports Android Origin. 

If true it would mean the Nexus 8 is undergoing its final regulatory testing before an official release, meaning we could start seeing it pop up inside benchmarks very, very soon. 

In recent months, however, the Nexus 8 name has retreated into the background, with the vast majority of current rumours pointing to the Nexus 9 name instead - this is still believed to be the "HTC Volantis" and the "Flounder". Google's Nexus naming does appear to be seeing a lot of chopping and changing though, we've seen the Nexus 6 become the Nexus X in several leaks, so it's not implausible that Google could be switching names on the tablet too.

Nexus 8 Release Date 

Initial speculation pointed to a launch either during or in the immediate wake of Google I/O 2014, which of course didn’t happen. As of right now, everybody is stumped in this regard…

@upleaks, the new young-pretender, looking to fill the void left in the wake of Evan Blass' – AKA, @evleaks – departure from the leak business, has some “news” about the apparently impending launch of HTC’s T1 tablet which some believe to be the fabled Nexus 8 from Google.

Posting on Twitter, @upleaks stats: “HTC T1 will be release before Oct 9”. Great. But as one reply to the tweet points out, @upleaks has been wrong about the T1’s release in the past, claiming it would land sometime in August, which, of course, has not happened. Does this mean HTC delayed the launch? Or did @upleaks get his wires crossed? 

We do know with a certain degree of confidence that HTC will indeed be building the upcoming Nexus slate – multiple sources, all reliable, have now concluded this.

As for a release date, it’s likely to happen inside Q4 in order to hit the Xmas rush which kicks off in earnest post-September. October is also looking quite likely as multiple Android L 5.0 leaks (aka Lollipop or Lemon Meringue Pie) point to an October rollout to existing smartphones - that's unlikely to happen without the build debuting on a Nexus device first, usually the new smartphone is the forerunner on that, so we're expecting to see the Nexus X by the end of next month. Whether the Nexus 8/9 will tag along, or follow on later, is still up in the air.

Nexus 8 Design

IHS Technology, a technology consultancy firm, told CNET that Google is planning to release a larger Nexus tablet later in the year with a “high performance” screen. The tablet is rumoured to be entering production in July this year but will be made in much smaller volumes than the Nexus 7. It’ll also cost a bit more due to higher specifications according to the firm.

And then there’s this: a tablet called the “HTC Volantis” which Android Police claims is the upcoming Nexus 8. Specs for the device sound impressive too, tallying with what we’ve already heard about the tablet – namely that it will be targeted at competing more closely with Apple’s iPad Mini.

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Here’s a full breakdown of the Nexus 8’s specs:

• 8.9" Display at 2048x1440 (281ppi)
• NVIDIA Logan 64-bit processor (Tegra K1)
• 2GB RAM
• 16/32GB internal storage
• 8MP OIS main camera, 3MP front facing camera
• Aluminum zero-gap construction
• Stereo front-facing speakers
• 8.91"x5.98"x0.31" body (that's 22.63x15.19x0.79cm)
• 418g (or 427g with LTE) (that's 14.74/15.1 ounces)

In addition to Android Police’s report, a new Twitter-based leak extraordinaire, one @upleaks, has also chimed in with some “alleged” specs for the Nexus 8. According to the @evleaks-backed leaker, the HTC Volantis will feature a 64-bit Tegra K1 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and an 8MP camera. NFC and LTE will also feature, as will a “high performance” 8.9in display. 

Nexus 8 Price

Rhoda Alexander from IHS Technology told CNET she “would not be surprised if it is higher than $299.” Would you spend that kind of money on a Nexus 8 tablet? The source also suggested Google would be producing a third-generation Nexus 7, too. Alexander said, “We still expect to see a 3rd generation of the Nexus 7 product at some point in 2014 but do not have any confirmation of actual contracts for such a product at present.” 

Android Police leaked a bunch of information about the Nexus 8 on the eve of Google I/O 2014. You can see a breakdown of the device’s alleged specs above, as well as a picture of what the HTC-built Nexus tablet looks like. According to the report’s sources, Google will release the tablet inside Q4 and it will come in two flavours: 16GB ($399) and 32GB ($499). 

Google Nexus 8 Confirmed as HTC T1 aka Volantis/Flounder with Freshly-Leaked Specs & Features – Reports

More leaked details appear to confirm that the upcoming HTC T1 tablet will be the Google Nexus 6 on release date as the fresh torrent of tweets revealed the device's market destination and accessories.



Before August 2014 ended, @UpLeaks, who seemingly replaced the recently retired @evleaks in providing exciting information on forthcoming devices, let out series of tweets that revealed some juicy details about the HTC T1.

In the first revelation, @UpLeaks teased that the T1, which he maintained is the Nexus 8, will come out of the box with a sufficient supply of accessories - case cover and keyboard alike.

"HTC T1 accessories; Magic Cover Leather (Natural/Black), Magic Cover TPU (Coral Amethyst/Mint Indigo/Lime Stone/Indigo Black), Keyboard Folio," said the shout out on August 30.

In his second tweet, @UpLeaks seemed to confirm that the stock Android tab will the market in Wi-Fi and cellular versions and among the countries to initially get the device are Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Japan and Korea.

This next Nexus is destined to "soooooo many countries," the gadget scooper said, hinting that fans from Asia and Europe are sure to play around with the device very soon.

The series of tweets, however, stopped short of saying when exactly is the HTC T1 coming to town.

Earlier, the same leak source echoed the prevailing belief among the Android universe that Google has chosen HTC to build the Nexus 7 successor, which is an 8.9-inch device that goes by the internal name Flounder or Volantis.

It is also alleged that the Nexus 8 is a beast that will draw its power from a dual-core 64-bit Tegra K1 processing chip. The CPU's existence was recently affirmed in a press release issued by NVIDIA, which highlighted the Project David chip's top-notch performance capabilities and high energy-efficient quality.

And like its Nexus 6 cousin, the Nexus 8 or 9 (owing to its near 9-inch profile) will be the first Android device to benefit from the Android L experience that Google had previewed during the 2014 edition of its annual I/O Developers Conference last June.

In a recent report, it was suggested that the upcoming Android edition is actually the build 5.0 that will effectively end the 4x-series. By replacing KitKat 4.4x, Google will reportedly label the next Android version as Lemon Meringue Pie or LMP.

So LMP is likely coming out with the Nexus 8 release date on November 2014, per projections by Android watchers, or a few weeks after the deemed Nexus 6 rollout in October.

Flipkart Digiflip Pro ET701, XT911 and XT811 Intel-powered tablets: Quick read

The Flipkart Digiflip Pro ET701, XT911 and XT811 tablets with Intel processors under their hoods are the latest from India’s very own Amazon rival. The online retailer is so hot at present, Samsung decided to join the list of companies awarding it with exclusives and give it the Galaxy S5 mini for its very own.



Prior to the newest launches, Flipkart rolled out the Digiflip Pro XT712 in June for Rs 9999. The ET701 lowers the price bar by selling for just Rs 5999 on the website, while the XT811 and XT911 are priced at Rs 10999 and Rs 15999, in that order. We will also be seeing two other tablets going by the names XT801 and XT901, up for sale in the future.

Starting with the Digiflip Pro ET701 tablet which shows off a 7-inch form factor, you get a 1024 x 600 pixel IPS touchscreen panel and a 1.2GHz dual core Atom Z2520 processor with it. Being a low-end tablet, we’re sure you didn’t expect more than 1GB of RAM, microSD card support, 8GB ROM and Wi-Fi. Also on offer is a 2MP main camera, VGA webcam and 2800mAh battery.

You have the option of grabbing it in the color red, blue, gray or white. Next comes the Digiflip Pro XT911 with an 8.9-inch full HD display and 3G as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. If you are satisfied with only Wi-Fi, then its XT901 version should do nicely for you. In terms of specifications, there’s a 2GHz dual core Atom Z2580 chip and 2GB of RAM under the hood.

The XT911 is fueled by a 6500mAh battery and boasts of 16GB internal memory along with 5MP and 2MP cameras. The Pro XT811 that has the Wi-Fi only XT801 as its cousin, would share much the same features if it wasn’t for its 4200mAh power house, 8-inch 1280 x 800 pixel screen and 1GB RAM. These Flipkart tablets run on Android Jelly Bean with the promise of an upgrade to KitKat at a later point.

You can certainly tell which one is the most expensive of the lot by simply looking closely at their designs. The first picture we’ve posted is that of the Digiflip Pro ET701 and although it adopts similarly rounded edges as the Digiflip Pro XT911, the appearance is just not as polished. As for the Digiflip Pro XT811 (image below), it has adopted an exterior which is smart and severe at the same time.

Here’s the link you should visit for the Flipkart Digiflip Pro ET701, while the Digiflip Pro XT911 is available on this page. In case you’re actually hunting down the Digiflip Pro XT811, it can be found here.

Gionee GPad G5 5.5-inch hexa core phablet laucned for Rs 14999

The Gionee GPad G5 phablet may have a hexa core processor, but it’s a downgrade in a manner of speaking when compared to its predecessor and this shows in the price of Rs 14999 attached to it. The GPad G4 is currently pegged at Rs 16999 officially even though it was launched for Rs 18999.



The only advantage the Gionee GPad G5 possesses at present is the fact that the Mi 3 has stepped away from the limelight temporarily. Otherwise, it’d be racking up a lot of criticism considering its price is Rs 1000 heavier than the Xiaomi phone’s tag.

And it’s not like the GPad G5 has anything spectacular to show in comparison. Apart from having a hexa core processor, its specs sheet isn’t too impressive. There’s 1GB of RAM onboard and 8GB of ROM, though it does come with expandability of up to 32GB unlike the Mi 3 and GPad G4.

Also see: Xiaomi Mi 3 handset disappears in 2.4 seconds from Flipkart, sales stopped indefinitely

The new GPad takes some design cues from the Mi 3 although it would have done better to borrow more tips on the internal components. The phone is sharp on all four corners and has an easy way about it on the back with its slightly curvy build which should offer a good grip.



This forthcoming Gionee device embeds dual SIM slots and 3G connectivity, but no 4G LTE. Its 5.5-inch IPS display which is protected with Dragontrail Glass would have been more interesting if it did full HD instead of sticking to 1280 x 720p resolution .

At least there’s Android KitKat inside and a decent capacity 2400mAh battery that will let you squeeze about 12 hours of 3G talk time out of it. You also get two SIM card slots and an 8MP camera with flash on the back. You’ll have to make do with a 2MP lens for video calls.

Gionee GPad G5 key specs at a glance:

- 5.5-inch 1280 x 720p IPS Dragontrail Glass screen
- Android v4.4 KitKat OS
- 8MP main camera w/ LED flash, 2MP front lens
- 1.5GHz hexa core Cortex A7 processor
- 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage
- 32GB memory expandability
- 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS
- Dual SIM card slots
- 2400mAh battery, 12 hours 3G talk time
- 157.3 x 77.6 x 7.9 millimeters
- Black and white color options

The Gionee GPad 5 is not up for sale yet, but it will be made available soon enough through the company’s very own store as well as via other retailers.

Nabi’s massive 24-inch Big Tab HD launching this fall for $549

If your kids keep borrowing your tablet to play video games and you’re thinking about buying them something of their own, Nabi is making an interesting pitch. The company recently announced launch plans for its Big Tab HD, a massive Android-powered slate that ships in 20-inch and 24-inch variants. Nabi has a history of releasing more traditional kiddie-friendly tablets, however the outfit says it’s looking to promote social interaction, which is why its new slab has enough screen real estate for two simultaneous users.

The Big Tab HD’s 20-inch model features a 1,600 x 900 display, while the device’s larger variant pushes a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080, and both tablets ship with a Tegra 4 processor and 16GB of storage space. Not your typical dessert-themed version of Android, Nabi’s massive tablet runs Blue Morpho OS, which ships with parental controls and the ability to toggle between a kid-friendly experience and an unrestricted parent mode.

Set to release this fall, the Big Tab HD has a big asking price of $449 for the 20-inch model and $549 for the 24-inch version of the device.

Virgin America Distributing Nexus 7 Tablets Across Entire Fleet for Crew Members

If you fly Virgin America, be prepared to see the Nexus 7 making frequent appearances in the skies, as the company recently announced that they are to outfit their flight attendants with the Google and ASUS-made hardware.



Nicknamed the Crewpad, the device is used to help flight attendants assistant passengers better. For example, whenever you order food or drinks through Virgin’s inflight entertainment system, the attendant will receive a notification on their tablet, then fulfill your request.

In the company’s blog post covering the news, it states the Nexus 7 will allow Virgin to “constantly enhance the software,” on the device, meaning the service should only get better over time.

The Nexus 7 tablet from Google will replace our existing tablets, providing a thinner, lighter and faster solution and a state-of-the-art 7-inch touch screen. Our InFlight Teammates took the devices for a 30-day test run and shared great feedback, allowing them to deliver an even more efficient service to our guests. And the best part – the tablets will give us a great foundation for the future, with the ability to constantly enhance the software and make the service even more personalized for our guests…so watch this space!

Micromax Canvas Knight Cameo A290 introduced for around Rs 11999

Speaking of product names that are hard to remember, a new Micromax Canvas Knight Cameo A290 has been launched in India at a price starting from Rs 11500 and going past the Rs 12000 mark for those who buy it from eBay. Is it just us, or is there something about the design which reminds you of the iPhone?

It’s a good thing that Apple is rumored to be revamping the appearance of the upcoming iPhone 6 to sport more curves. Once a high-end device design trend starts being adopted by mid-range phones like the Micromax Canvas Knight Cameo, it’s always a good thing to flee the scene and invent a new level of premium shallowness.

The Micromax A290 handset has some nice things going for it if you choose to be sensible and look at it as a mid-range handset. Unlike the Reliance Digital Reconnect which shares a similar price point, the Canvas Cameo handset lands with KitKat v4.4.2 running the show.

The Canvas Knight Cameo smartphone embeds an octa core processor from MediaTek and it clocks a speed of 1.4GHz. Its 4.7-inch screen is not the crispest at 1280 x 720p resolution and there’s just 1GB of RAM inside. At least you’ll be able to click decent selfies thanks to the 5MP camera on the front.

Micromax Canvas Knight Cameo A290 specs at a run:

- Platform: Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS
- Processor: 1.4GHz octa core MT6592M chip
- Memory: 8GB ROM, 1GB RAM, 32GB expandability
- Display: 4.7-inch 1280 x 720p IPS touchscreen
- Cameras: 8MP main snapper, 5MP front lens
- Power house: 2000mAh battery, 7 hours talk time
- Connectivity: HSDPA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
- Colors: Black, white and gold or black and gold

Head over to this page on eBay India, if you want to get your paws on the Micromax Canvas Knight Cameo A290. As for folks intending to buy the smartphone via Snapdeal, you can go there.

Barnes & Noble teases new Samsung Nook e-reader a few days before official launch

Galaxy Tab 4, set to be launched on Wednesday. Digital Reader notes that the company has now emailed out a 30-second teaser video, showing reactions to the device – including one from Grumpy Cat …



The video doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know, but there will probably be few surprises in store anyway. The e-reader is likely to be the same hardware as the Tab 4, but with a different overlay to put books front and centre.

iberry Auxus Note 5.5 launched for Rs 13999 with octa-core chip, fingerprint scanner

The freshly launched iberry Auxus Note 5.5 has jumped onto the gimmicky fingerprint scanner bandwagon which is supposed to give handsets an added layer of security. It grabs a price tag of Rs 13990 which puts it in direct competition with the extremely popular Xiaomi Mi3 that’s selling like hotcakes at the moment.



There’s an iberry Auxus tablet which has been launched as well, but we’ll talk about that one later. The Note 5.5 smartphone is among the few devices in the world that offer fingerprint scanners. This trend was started by Apple’s iPhone 5S and was followed immediately by the HTC One Max and the Samsung Galaxy S5.

Running the Android KitKat OS, the dual SIM Auxus Note 5.5 offers a 5.5-inch 720p HD display and a 1.7GHz octa core processor that’s supported by 2GB of RAM. A 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing snapper form part of its features list as well, and you can find a 3200mAh battery inside.

iberry Auxus Note 5.5 main specs at a glance:

- Display: 5.5-inch, 720p HD
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Processor: 1.7GHz octa core
- Memory: 2GB RAM, 16GB storage (expandable up to 64GB)
- Camera: 13MP rear, 8MP front
- Battery: 3200mAh

Coming to the iberry Auxus AX04i tablet, this entry-level device kicks in a 7-inch IPS touchscreen. It offers dual SIM connectivity and gathers steam from a 1.3GHz dual core processor that combines its muscle power with 512MB of RAM. This slab of Android runs the KitKat OS to make sure people find it as appealing as possible.

iberry Auxus AX04i main specifications list:

- Display: 7-inch IPS
- OS: Android 4.4 KitKat
- Processor: 1.3GHz dual core
- Memory: 512GB RAM, 4GB storage
- Storage expandable up to 64GB
- Camera: 2MP rear, 0.3MP front
- Battery: 3000mAh

Both the iberry Auxus Note 5.5 and the Auxus AX04i will be sold online exclusively via eBay from August 21 onwards. While the smartphone will be priced at Rs 13990, the tablet will be up for grabs at a comparatively low cost of Rs 6490.

Apple iPad Mini 2 vs Asus Google Nexus 7 – Overview comparing Prices, Specs & Battery Life

Mobiles have a number of features alike, but manufacturers also try to differentiate their own products by implementing additional functions so they are more attractive to consumers. It’s led to great innovation in mobile device development throughout the last Two decades



If you’re in the market for a new tablet, you’ll probably going to stumble upon both the Asus Google Nexus 7 and the iPad Mini 2. While the first runs on Android and the second one obviously utilizes iOS, they are somewhat similar in what you can use them for and ultimately, what they cost. Of course, tastes differ, but if you need to make a choice between the two, make sure to read on.

Although both smart devices have been out on the market for quite a while, the lowered price and the wider availability make the iPad Mini 2 ( or iPad Mini with Retina Display) and the 2013 version of the Asus Google Nexus 7 two of the current hottest 7-inch tablets up for sale. But which one of the two does offer better specifications at the best price?

Design & Specifications

While the iPad Mini 2 with Retina Display is thinner than the Google Nexus 7 (2013) it does seem to be heavier and quite larger as it has a 7.87 x 5.30 x 0.30 inch size with a weight of 12.03 oz. compared to the 7.87 x 4.49 x 0.34 inches with 10.55 oz case of the Nexus tablet.

Although it can be debated whether the Apple A7 with 64-bit architecture featured on the iPad Mini 2 is better than the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro featured on the Nexus 7 (2013) it is certain that the Nexus Quad Core 1,5 GHz Krait processor backed up by 2 GB of Ram is far more powerful that the Apple’s Dual Core 1,3 MHz one, which is backed up only by 1 GB of DDR 3 RAM memory.

Display & Sound

The Retina Display of the iPad Mini 2 is the selling point of the device, being far superior than the one featured on the Nexus 7 (2013) as it is 7.9 inches with 324 ppi and 2048 x 1536 pixels in size, whereas the Google’s 7-inch tablet features a 7-inch display offering a 1920 x 1080 pixels FullHD picture quality with 323 ppi. Although, the display on the Nexus is quite beautiful to look at and offers a pretty decent color intensity, brightness and contrast, it is quite inferior compared to the iPad Mini with its Retina display.

Battery Life

Both tablets offer pretty decent battery life of up to 10 hours of multimedia use. As the one featured in the Apple’s iPad Mini 2 is irreplaceable by the user, the Google Nexus 7 may seem to win by default in the battery life category. However, as the battery is pretty hard to be removed and replaced by the common user as well, and as the one featured on the iPad mini seems to be pretty sustainable and solid both devices receive equal grades for the battery life.

Camera

Every Apple product is aimed at bringing the perfect multimedia business and the iPad Mini 2 with retina display is no different. The size of the camera featured on the device may be the same as the one featured on the Nexus 7, but the software and additional hardware that back it up are making the pictures on the Apple’s 7-Inch tablet crisp and clear. Just some of the features on the Apple’s iPad Mini 2 camera are the Back-illuminated sensor, the digital zoom and geo tagging, HDR and the Digital image stabilization.

Overall

While the Apple iPad Mini 2 with Retina Display is perfect for multimedia use, if you are planning to play high-quality games or use your phone with apps that require a lot processing power the Google Nexus 7 would be the right pick. As the price of both devices differs, because of retailer availability, it all comes down to which OS you prefer – the Apple iOS or the Google’s Android and if you want to receive a great multimedia experience or a equally decent one backed up by processor and memory power.

Acer Iconia A1-830 Wi-Fi tablet launched on Flipkart for Rs 11299

The Acer Iconia A1-830 Wi-Fi tablet which has hit India through Flipkart for a price of Rs 11299, is a slick piece of work mainly because of one element. If you haven’t spotted it yet, then we’ll point out that its design bears a faithful resemblance to the iPad mini.



Acer liked the look of the Apple device so much, it decided to make a version of it running Google’s mobile OS, we guess. The Iconia A1-830 is undoubtedly a good option for all those of you who’ve been craving for some Android action on an iPad mini duplicate.

This page on Flipkart shows the iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi selling at Rs 17900 upfront and for approximately Rs 13900 if you trade in your old phone, tablet or laptop. From that point of view, there’s nothing but your love for Android stopping you from choosing the iOS tablet over the Iconia A1-830 Wi-Fi tablet variant priced at Rs 11299.

Acer Iconia A1-830 Wi-Fi specs at a glance:

- Dual core 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2560 chip
- 7.9-inch 1024 x 768p LCD touchscreen
- Android Jelly Bean v4.2 OS
- 5MP main camera, 2MP webcam
- 1GB of RAM, 16GB ROM
- 32GB microSD card support
- Wi-Fi connectivity, no voice calling
- 4000mAh battery, 7.5 hours average use
- 138.4mm x 203mm x 8.15mm
- 375gm

Surface Pro 3 review: a truly portable laptop, and an acceptable tablet

Surface Pro 3 UK review: what it is, what it's for

Microsoft markets the Surface Pro 3 as 'the tablet that can replace your laptop'. It's a fair claim: Surface Pro 3 is not an iPad rival, or at least not only an iPad rival. Microsoft has set out to create a device that is both powerful and portable. A laptop and a tablet, and also a desktop PC. (See also: Which laptop to buy: 2014 laptop buying advice, and the best laptops of 2014.)

It's a 12in slate that runs full Windows and has wireless connectivity as well as USB 3.0 and a DisplayPort. For a 12in computer it is thin and light. It is perfectly feasible as a good portable laptop, and an acceptable if heavy tablet. The question is: is that what people want?

I've been carrying around the Surface Pro 3 for a few days now. It is the most portable power laptop I have ever carried, but even despite improvements on previous models it isn't better to use than a laptop. And although it is possible to use the Surface Pro 3 as a tablet for the consumption of movies and e-books, and for social networking, it's a very big and heavy slate.

Microsoft and Intel really want the Surface Pro 3 to succeed, as it will show the possibilities of the Wintel combination and put Windows 8 into competition with mobile devices such as iPads and Android smartphones. It is indisputably a high-class device, a great feat of engineering. But I have a suspicion that people like having a separate Kindle or iPad for fun things, and a laptop for work. We'll see.

In the meantime, here I have attempted to review the Surface Pro 3 from a technical standpoint. I'll look at build and design, performance and specifications. (See also: New Surface Pro 3 new features.)

Surface Pro 3 UK review: changes from Surface Pro 2

As well as iterative specification upgrades, there are two signficant changes to the Surface Pro 3 when compared to its predecessors. The first thing is the display size. Whereas previous Surface Pro devices were 10in tablets, this is a 12in slate. This fits with the message that the Surface Pro is a laptop replacement, rather than a rival to the iPad or the Nexus 7. It's a subtle change of message, but not a subtle change - Surface Pro 3 really is laptop-size in use, if not in your bag.

The other tweak speaks to the same thing. Microsoft has introduced a new keyboard cover to the Surface Pro 3. Unlike older models there is no Touch Cover: the thicker but more typing-friendly Type Cover has been stretched up to fit. And it has been improved with a wider touchscreen and a better, two-angle setup that allows for a better typing experience in laptop mode.

Similarly, the kickstand integral to the Surface Pro 3 has now got multiple points. The changes to the Surface Pro are all based around it being more of a laptop replacement than an overspecced tablet. And that's significant.

Surface Pro 3 UK review: UK price

In the US the Surface Pro 3 will start at $799 for the Core i3 with 64GB of storage; here in the UK it will cost you £639 for the same base model. There are five configurations that differ in terms of what processor, storage and RAM you want; you can pay up to £1,649 for the Surface Pro 3. Here are full pricing details:

• Core i3, 64GB, 4GB RAM - £639
• Core i5, 128GB, 4GB RAM - £849
• Core i5, 256GB, 8GB RAM - £1,109
• Core i7, 256GB, 8GB RAM - £1,339
• Core i7, 512GB, 8GB - £1,649

As a high-spec, powerful and portable laptop, then, the Surface Pro 3 is actually pretty cheap. (See also: Surface Pro 3 vs iPad Air comparison: Surface Pro is twice the device... but you'll still buy the iPad.)

Surface Pro 3 UK review: build, design

No longer a 10in tablet, the Surface Pro 3 is built around a 12in display. We'll talk about the display in detail in the next section, but the first thing you will notice is that this is a big tablet. It doesn't feel too big, however.

One of the benefits of that bigger display is that there is more space in which to fit the Surface Pro 3's excellent components, and so the more powerful Pro 3 is actually thinner than its predecessor, and indeed any similar full-spec Windows PC. The Surface Pro 3 measures 292 x 201.3 x 9.1mm, although that thickness figure increases to around 16mm with the Type cover included. Either way it's the thinnest Core PC ever made.

Microsoft says the Surface Pro 3 weighs only 800g. We measured our Core i5, 128GB Surface Pro 3 at 813g. Add in the Type Cover and the weight goes up to 1110g on our scales. With the Cover and Pen the weight goes up to 1128g.

This is truly impressive engineering. Microsoft has squeezed into a lightweight slate a powerful PC. For a power laptop the Surface Pro 3 is truly ultraportable. It will slip into your bag or briefcase as easily as any laptop or netbook we have used.

Build quality is universally excellent. Despite the light weight the Surface Pro 3 feels strong. It has a metallic feel, but the texture bears many of the characteristics of plastic. The back is a silver-effect finish, with a simple 'Surface' logo. All the way around the sides is a similar finish, with the thin airvent gap that we have seen on previous Surface devices. It's possible this is required for airflow purposes, but it does tend to be a magnet for bits of filth and dust. Connectivity ports, on/off switch and volume controls live around the edges. The camera aperture is at the top of the back side (in portrait mode).

The Surface Pro 3 is thinner and lighter than previous Surface Pro models, and the larger 12in screen makes for comfortable reading and viewing. The already impressive kickstand can now be secured at any angle rather than the two of the previous model, and the optional Type Cover features a double-fold hinge that allows you to lock it to the display's lower bezel for easier working with the Surface Pro on your lap. We'll talk more about the Type Cover later, but the Surface line's deserved reputation for innovative design continues.

On our model the kickstand/Type Cover combination makes for the ultimate in versatility. You can position the Surface in just about every position from flat to the desk to bolt upright. And the keyboard can sit flat or at a slight incline, like a desktop keyboard. Using the Surface Pro 3 on my lap is my most comfortable experience of working on my lap, but I still prefer to use it on a desk. Regular commuter/workers should consider the Surface Pro 3, however.

Around the front, the Surface Pro 3 is a single sheet of virtual end-to-end glass. The Windows symbol sits to the right in landscape mode or at the bottom in portrait. Switch on the screen and you'll see that the bezels are impressively small for such a thin and light PC.

We can't fail but be impressed with the build quality and design of the Surface Pro 3. It is the thinnest and lighest of thin-and-light PCs, a truly portable, powerful PC. A uniquely versatile device. But that doesn't mean it is the one device to rule them all.

The Surface Pro 3 is a perfectly servicable laptop, and a perfectly servicable tablet. It is sufficiently thin-and-light to work as an okay tablet, but the large screen size - critical for laptop use - means I'd always reach for a iPad mini or Nexus 7 for consumption purposes such as reading an e-book or watching a video. I just don't have the arm strength to want to use the Surface Pro 3. And leaving aside occasions when I am required to work without a desk, I'd always choose a full-size laptop for work purposes where possible. It's just that little bit better. 

Surface Pro 3 UK review: display

The Surface Pro 3 is built around a 12in ClearType full-HD Plus multitouch display. It is noticably sharper than the previous generations of Surface Pro, a genuinely impressive display at this size. A native resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels makes for a decent pixel density of 216ppi.

The extra size makes the Surface Pro 3 a feasible laptop. It's a big difference from a 10in tablet with a keyboard attached. And that isn't the only upgrade. Whereas the aspect ratio was previously 16:9, the Surface Pro 3 is a 3:2 device. Open it in portrait mode and it feels like an A4 pad, but in landscape orientation movies look good.

As, indeed, does everything. Photos are bright and clear, full of colour and detail. And even at this resolution it is difficult to pick out pixels in dense text documents. It's a very good display. The multitouch screen is responsive, too. (See also: The 26 best tablets of 2014 UK.)

Surface Pro 3 UK review: Type Cover, pen

For the uninitiated the Type Cover is a must-have, although not a cheap, addition to the Surface Pro 3. Costing an additional £109 the Type Cover is a screen-protecting cover that attaches to one side of the Surface Pro 3 using a magnet. It snaps into place with a satisfying click, and then works like a book cover to protect your Surface Pro 3's display.

Fold it out and it works as a keyboard. As with other Type Cover accessories for Surface tablets the Pro 3's Type Cover is a fine device. As good a portable keyboard cover as you will find. We love the ability to set it flat against the desk or at a more keyboard-like angle. And the keys have enough travel to make typing feasible. We'd always rather use a full-sized laptop keyboard, but in the absence of that the Type Cover is the very next best thing.

The trackpad has been expanded from previous Type Covers, and is now a reasonably sized 89 x 43mm. It has distinct left- and right-click zones, and supports gesture control as you would expect. Fold the Type Cover around the back of Surface Pro 3 and the keys are no longer active, a nice touch that allows you to use the Type Cover as a cover even when you are in tablet mode.

When closed the Type Cover presents to the world a felt-like finish, which feels nice to the touch but has a nasty habit of picking up fluff. It is available in several different colours.

The other Surface Pro 3 peripheral is the pen, which comes free with every model. This is a nice, silvery metal device. Click it on and your Surface Pro opens OneNote so you can quicky capture and save a note - even if the Surface Pro 3 is locked. You can imagine this being useful in a meeting scenario. The pen works with any app that uses ink and feels accurate when writing or drawing, and as a left-hander I found it a lot easier to use than many similar devices. Double-click the top button on your Surface Pen and sketch an image and it will be captured to a screenshot in OneNote.

For those who like a stylus/pen the Surface Pro 3's is as good as we have used. Unlike previous models it doesn't attach to the Surface Pro 3.

Surface Pro 3 UK review: specifications, performance

The Surface Pro 3's specifications are truly impressive. Each model comes with a fourth-generation Intel Core processor, either i3, i5, or i7. This is paired with either 4GB or 8GB RAM, and storage options range from a 64GB SSD through 128GB, 256GB to 512GB. Our test model is a Core i5 model with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. And, of course, it runs the full Intel version of Windows 8.1 Pro.

Sensors inlude ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer. There's also a digital compass.

In use the Surface Pro 3 is zippy and fast. Even under load and attempting multiple processes it feels exactly as fast and capable as should a PC with this powerful specification. And the benchmarks bear this out.

In the PCMark7 benchmark the Surface Pro 3 managed a score of 4864. This is a very healthy score, a full 200 points ahead of the 13in MacBook Air with which the Surface Pro 3 will be most closely compared. It's definitely in the top echelon of portable PCs. (See also: Inside the Surface Pro 3: What the specs don't tell you.)

Surface Pro 3 UK review: connectivity

Connectivity options abound. There is a full-size USB 3.0 port, as well as a microSD card reader that allows you to expand the Surface Pro 3's storage by 128GB. A Mini DisplayPort allows you to use a larger display with your Surface Pro 3. This is important: although there is a bespoke docking station you can buy to turn your Surface Pro 3 into a desktop PC, you could use it with any keyboard and display. So your Surface Pro 3 could be laptop, tablet and desktop PC. There's also a cover port and a headset jack.

If you wanted to use Bluetooth peripherals you could, as the Surface Pro 3 comes with Bluetooth 4.0. You get 802.11ac/802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi via a two-stream 11ac wireless adaptor. This is a Marvell Avastar 88W8897, to be exact, with a top theoretical wireless sync speed of 867 Mb/s.

It's the first non-Broadcom 11ac wireless chipset we've come across, although perhaps not without its teething problems. Some forum threads would suggest from when it first appeared in this tablet people had problems connecting to Wi-Fi. Happily this seems to have fixed, and we can confirm that we had absolutely no problems with Wi-Fi connectivity on the Surface Pro 3.

Surface Pro 3 UK review: battery life

Microsoft claims up to nine hours of web browsing use. It's a bold claim, putting the Surface Pro 3 firmly in the MacBook Air class of all-day battery life. We've not yet benchmarked the Surface Pro 3's battery life, but we can say that after a full day in the office web browsing, downloading and writing this review the Surface Pro 3 is still going strong and telling us half the battery capacity remains.

Whether or not the nine hours is realistic, the Surface Pro 3 is part of the new breed of ultraportable workstations that allow you to step away from the mains for a significant period of time.

UPDATE: more than 24 hours after we started using the Surface Pro 3, during which time we have used it on and off for more than one day's work, 43 percent of battery life remains. It really is a great performance. (See also: Surface Pro 3 release date, price and specs UK: Windows 8 tablet goes on sale this month.)

Surface Pro 3 UK review: cameras

The Surface Pro 3 comes with two 5Mp cameras - hardly high-end, but about what you'd expect from a laptop rather than a smartphone or tablet. A quick glance at the Microsoft forums shows that some people are unhappy with this. So let's be clear: the Surface Pro 3 is not a great camera. It is perfectly feasible to use as a conference calling, Skype machine. But it is not going to replace your DSLR or even your smartphone when it comes to capturing photos. We've included some test shots below.

As to video, both cameras can capture 1080p video. So for video calls the combination of great screen and 1080p camera is a good one.

Surface Pro 3 test shots

HTC-Made Google Nexus 8 Tablet Tipped to Feature 4GB of RAM, Android L

Google still hasn't revealed plans for launching a new Nexus tablet; though we have confirmation the Nexus 5's successor, as per Sundar Pichai, would arrive sometime in the second half of 2014. However, this doesn't stop leaks regarding the next-generation Nexus tablet from coming.
New details about the alleged HTC-made Nexus 8 tablet, previously referred to as 'volantis/ flounder', have surfaced online. A Twitter user named UpLeaks has claimed that the alleged Nexus 8 has been codenamed T1, and will come with Android L out-of-the-box.

The tipster has also listed some of the purported specifications of the alleged Nexus 8 tablet, which seem to be quite high-end. The list includes a 64-bit Tegra processor; a MDM9x25 modem (3G model); 4GB of RAM; an 8-megapixel rear camera with flash; a 1.6-megapixel front camera, as well as GPS and NFC connectivity. An earlier report had suggested that the alleged Nexus 8 tablet would run the 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 chipset, along with an incredible 5GB of RAM.

Another report by Gforgames, citing South Korean certification agency RRA (Radio Research Agency), suggests that the unannounced HTC-made Nexus 8 has just been certified. The rumoured HTC device with code number '0P82100' has been spotted at the RRA site.

The alleged Nexus 8 tablet has been long-rumoured to be built by HTC, the Taiwanese giant, and hit store shelves by Q3. The anticipated HTC-made Google Nexus 8 tablet is also said to feature a 'high performance' 8.9-inch display, in an attempt to compete with Amazon's Kindle range and Apple's iPad mini. Prior to this, two alleged Nexus models (Nexus 6 and Nexus 8) were spotted in the Chromium codes.

In June, Google's Dave Burke confirmed that the Nexus program would continue unaffected by the Android Silver program and a new Nexus flagship running Android L can be expected to launch later this year.

Asus announces Fonepad 7 for Indian market at Rs 8,999

Taiwanese company Asus on Thursday announced its Fonepad 7 tablet for the Indian market at a price tag of Rs 8,999. The Fonepad 7 is a 7-inch palm-sized Android tablet which supports Android 4.4 KitKat operating system.



The Fonepad 7 runs on a dual-core Intel clover trail atom processor with hyper threading technology. It is a dual SIM gadget with a display of 1024x600 pixel resolution and also features 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal memory which is expandable up to 64GB with a microSD card.

It sports a 2MP rear camera and a 0.3 MP front camera. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro USB port along with USB On-the-go support. It comes in four colour options- black, white, red and blue.

Fonepad 7 is built to last for around 10 hours of 720P video playback or 30 hours of 3G talk time. Asus has exclusively partnered with Flipkart to sell the Fonepad 7. 

Laptop review - Lenovo Yoga 2 11 does dual duty as laptop and tablet

Having trouble deciding between a laptop and a tablet?

The Lenovo Yoga 2 11 indicates the No. 1 PC maker’s belief that a significant segment of consumers on a limited budget are having trouble deciding between a notebook and a tablet.

At about three pounds and .67-inches thick, this Yoga 2 is first and foremost a light and thin laptop. It has an Intel Pentium N3520 processor, 4GB of memory, two USB ports (one of them USB 3.0) a micro HDMI port, an SD Card slot, 720p webcam, an audio jack and a proprietary power port. For storage, a 500GB 5400 rpm hard drive is standard, but it can be supplemented with an SSD option.

Battery was typically between five and six hours. That’s not great for a tablet, but it’s good for a laptop. The QWERTY keyboard is full size.

The Yoga 2 11 is thicker than a tablet, but when you outfit a tablet with a keyboard case the difference becomes negligible. Like most large tablets, it is more likely to be rested in the lap or on a table because of the weight and size.

As a hybrid, it does tablet tricks. The 11.6-inch, 1366-by-768 pixel touchscreen can flip 360 degrees for effectively four display modes: notebook, tablet, tent and stand. This makes it a good choice for those most interested in watching video or giving presentations.

The keyboard flexes slightly, and the touchpad doesn’t feel as nice as more expensive options. Clearly Lenovo worked to keep it at a relatively low price point, but even so the Yoga 2 feels robust overall. The hinges feel sturdy.

Starting well under $500, the Lenovo Yoga 2 11 may not offer superlative performance, but with a good price to performance ratio, it will get the job done for the budget conscious. For those comfortable with Windows 8, the Lenovo Yoga 2 11 is an affordable option as a travel friendly notebook that can take on occasional tablet duty.

Tablet Review - Acer Iconia A3 review

The Acer Iconia A3 is a 10.1in tablet with an entry-level price to match its rather basic design. At 560g, it's pretty hefty for a 10in tablet, and and this is something you really feel when holding it in one hand.

As the tablet is a chunky 10.2mm thick, we're not surprised it's heavy. As it's a budget Android tablet, we were also unsurprised to find the Iconia A3’s chassis is almost entirely plastic, which disappointingly has some flex when you exert any pressure to the back of the tablet. Still, you wouldn’t expect premium materials at this price, and the Iconia A3's weight and girth does at least make it feel robust.

Acer Iconia A3 thickness
The Iconia A3 is powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz MediaTek MT8125T system-on-a-chip (SoC) paired with 1GB RAM. This chipset has slightly lower performance than the Nvidia Tegra 3 we often see in similarly-priced tablets. In our SunSpider JavaScript benchmark, which is a good indicator of web browsing performance, it managed to complete the test in a rather slow 1,503ms. The tablet could be slow to render web pages and had some hesitation when scrolling around, but web browsing performance was generally acceptable.

The Iconia A3's graphics are handled by a PowerVR SGX 544 GPU. In our 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited test, the tablet scored 2,553 and 1,539 in Ice Storm Extreme. This is considerably less than the Google Nexus 7 managed, with its score of 7,154. The Acer Iconia A3 handles less graphics-intensive games, such as Angry Birds, fine, but it will struggle to run more taxing titles such as Real Racing 3 at decent graphics settings.

The Iconia A3 has 16GB of built-in storage, which is expandable through a microSD slot located on the left of the tablet. In fact, the left side is where you'll find most of the controls and ports, such as the power button, Micro USB charging port, headphone jack and Mini HDMI socket. The right side of the tablet only has the volume controls.

Acer Iconia A3 tablet back
It's a shame the connections aren’t better balanced, as it can make the tablet a bit fiddly to use; for example, the charging port is located so close to the power button that unlocking the device is tricky when the tablet is plugged in to charge.

There are stereo speakers on the bottom-left and right of the tablet, but these are placed in such a way that it’s easy to cover them with your hands when holding the device, muffling the sound. The speakers are at least quite loud, so you might not always need headphones for Skype calls or YouTube videos.

The Iconia A3 also supports Dolby Digital Plus, which can create virtualised 5.1-channel surround from normal headphones. We found it created a wider soundstage for music and generally preferred to leave it switched on. It made music sound a bit warmer than we would have liked, but when we turned it off our test tracks suddenly sounded flat and lifeless.

When watching films, Dolby Digital Plus also made dialogue clearer and dialled up the overall punch of sound effects and explosions. It also increased overall volume, both when using the built-in speakers and with headphones. This isn’t the ideal tablet to use to watch films on a long journey, however, as we saw just 7h 20m of continuous video playback in our video battery rundown test.

One of the Iconia A3's weaker aspects is its screen, and this certainly feels like an area where Acer has made compromises to keep the cost down. While it would always be difficult for the A3 to compete with more expensive tablets in terms of screen quality, we still found the display underwhelming.

The panel has a fairly low 1,280x800 resolution, which when paired with a 10.1in screen size makes for a pixel density of only 149ppi, so you won’t get the smooth text you see on tablets such as the Google Nexus 7 and iPad Air. Disappointingly, there is also no ambient light sensor, meaning you’ll need to adjust the brightness manually. At the display's maximum brightness setting, it was also difficult to see the screen in bright sunlight. We measured the screen's contrast ratio as 781:1, and our tests showed it could cover 66.4% of the sRGB colour gamut; neither of these are spectacular results. It's a fair screen for an inexpensive tablet, but is generally underwhelming.

The tablet runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which is no longer the latest version of Android, but is common among cheaper models. It's not as pretty as 4.4 and you'll miss out on some fancy features such as Google Now integration, but 4.2 is still a perfectly fine operating system. Acer has not strayed far from the standard Android experience, aside from pre-installing a number of apps, some of which are more useful than others. It comes with a free version of McAfee Mobile Security which frustratingly you can’t uninstall and regularly prompts you to upgrade to a premium version; as you'd expect, this is deeply annoying. Even third-party uninstallers weren't able to touch it, at least not without root access.

Acer has included some of its own handy tweaks, however. Acer IntelliSpin detects when the tablet is lying flat, such as on a table, and can still detects when you rotate the device to adjust from portrait to landscape. With standard Android, you have to pick the tablet up from the table to make the screen rotate. You also get the Acer Remote Files and PicStream apps. The former lets you access files on your computer remotely, and the latter automatically backs up photos and syncs them with your home PC.

It may be low in price, but the Acer Iconia A3 feels cheap and has a mediocre screen. However, if you really want a 10in tablet for well under £200 than you'll be hard pushed to find much on offer. At this price you'll have to make sacrifices and the Iconia A3 isn't a bad tablet, although it's also worth considering the smarter-looking Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10, which has a great design but is saddled with an unusual Android interface. While you can still get the excellent Asus MemoPad FHD 10 for as little as £200 from Expansys.

Specifications:

Hardware
Processor	Quad-core 1.2GHz MediaTek MT8125T
RAM	1GB
Screen size	10.1in
Screen resolution	1,280x800
Screen type	IPS
Front camera	0.3 megapixels
Rear camera	5 megapixels
Flash	No
GPS	Yes
Compass	Yes
Storage	16GB
Memory card slot (supplied)	microSD
Wi-Fi	802.11n
Bluetooth	4
NFC	No
Wireless data	No
Size	260x175x10mm
Weight	560g
Features
Operating system	Android 4.2.2
Battery size	7300mAh
Buying information
Warranty	one-year RTB
Price	£180
Supplier	www.argos.co.uk
Details	www.acer.co.uk
Part code	A3-A10