What to expect in CES 2012 - More Tablets

A deluge of tablets. Like 2011, at CES 2012 we will be seeing a deluge of Android tablets, of varipous sizes with the flagship models running Nvidia's latest Tegra system. The difference this year is that unlike last year when only Motorola had Honeycomb, these year all manufacturers will already have Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, so we can expect manufacturers to release their latest offering immediately to head off Apple's iPad 3.

Nvidia's latest quadcore Tegra 3 is already used in Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime and the specifications of Acer's Iconia A700 and A701 with a full HD 1900 x 1200 screen have already been leaked so it does not appear that anything released at CES 2012 will be too surprising. 

I do expect to see more lower cost 7-inch dual core tablets with 1024 x 600 screens, trying to capitalize on markets not service by Amazon's Kindle Fire.

The most interesting thing we are likely to see at CES 2012 are the the Intel Atom powered tablets running Android 4.0. Whether manufacturers will flock to this new platform is uncertain, and it may be some time before they hit the market. 

Samsung Galaxy Note offered at Smart Data Plan 2000

Smart Communications is offering the Samsung Galaxy Note free at Data Plan 2000. The Galaxy Note is a Android powered mobile phone (or a tablet with phone functionality) with a giant 5.3-inch 800 x 1280, a dual-core 1.4GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor with Mali-400MP graphics, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a 2500 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy Note also comes with a sytlus,  Apparently this promo has been quietly running since December 19, 2011 and runs until December 31, 2011. I say quietly, since I only found out about this promo from a thread in TipidCP, a local mobile phone forum and online marketplace.

I confirmed the promo with @SMARTCares on Twitter, and they did confirm the Samsung Galaxy Note is being offered at Data Plan 2000, but did not confirm whether or not the promo is ending on December 31, 2011. 

If you have been wanting once of these devices, Data Plan 2000 is a very good option for getting one given that it retails for at least Php31,000 in the market. It would be best to apply for one before the end of the year. 

3G tablet shootout: Apple iPad 2 WiFi+ 3G (16 GB) versus the Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

The Apple iPad 2 is the tablet to beat, starting at Php30,990 for the 3G capable model with with 16 GB of memory it is a bit expensive, but when you look at the competition is reasonably priced. Since Samsung did not release a 16 GB model of its Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the cheapest Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 3G and a 32GB of internal storage cost a bit more than the iPad 2 WiFi+ 3G 16 GB. 

Apple iPad 2

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 with a 8.9-inch screen, 3G and 16GB of memory could be had for about Php29,900 and added phone functionality which would make it a better choice than the iPad 2 for some. Still, with the Apple iPad 2 and its 100,000 dedicated iPad apps just 2K away, the iPad 2 is the more tempting device.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus 7.0

Samsung has released another Galaxy Tab, this one the successor of its original tablet Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, and this one is priced at a point that will give tablet buyers reason to pause and think.

Price.  Samsung's P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus offering is priced all of 7K below the Apple iPad 2 3G.

• Apple iPad 2 WiFi+ 3G (16GB) - Php30,990
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (WiFi and 3G, 16GB) - Php23,990

Screen size is an important issue. The Samsung's P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has a smaller 7-inch screen versus the 9.7-inch screen of the Apple iPad 2. Physically, it is half the size.

• Apple iPad 2 - 9.7-inch -(768 x 1024)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus - 7-inch (600 x 1024)

If you are looking for a larger screen, the Apple iPad 2 is the better choice. If you are looking for the more portable unit, the Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 is much easier to lug around.

Physical size and weight. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is almost half the size and weight of Apple iPad 2.

• Apple iPad 2 - 241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8 mm, 607 g
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus - 193.7 x 122.4 x 9.9 mm, 345 g

Storage. The Apple iPad 2 comes with 16GB of non-expandable memory. For Php35,990 you can get a 32 GB model. For Php40,990 you can get one with 64GB of storage. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has 16GB of internal storage expandable to 80Gb via MicroSD card.

• Apple iPad 2 @Php30,990 - 16GB
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus - 16GB expandable to 80Gb via MicroSD card.

Connectivity. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has the edge in 3G speeds.

 

• Apple iPad 2  - WiFi, HSDPA 14.4 Mbps
  
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus - WiFi, HSDPA+ 21.1 Mbps, Bluetooth file transfer.

Video. Nothing too exciting here.

• Apple iPad 2  - 720p
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus - 720p
  

Others. 

• Apple iPad 2 - iCloud, Facetime
  
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus -Full GSM phone functionality (call and text), Paid apps are offered free at the Samsung Hub

Which one is better? Both of these tablets are fast modern dual core tablets. Yet, the two are so different that a user will really picked based on size. I think the Apple iPad 2 is the best large tablet on the market, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 plus is the best mid-sized tablet on the market.

Flagship smartphones on Smart Communications

Postpaid. Smart Communications offers the lowest prices on Apple's iPhone 4S for prepaid subscribers starting at Php33,200 for the 16GB iPhone 4S. As compared to Globe Telecom Smart prices are 4-7K cheaper for a prepaid kit.

If you are looking for a top end Android you are better off buying once unlocked rather than getting one from Smart. Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Sensation XE,  HTC EVO 3D and HTC Sensation. All these phones are 4.3-inch Android phones running on dual core processors will cost you at least Php6,000 less than a iPhone 4S. 

So despite Smart lowering the bar on iPhone pricing, it is still not a great bang for the buck proposition prepaid.

@Data Plan 3000. Smart has very interesting offering at Data Plan 3000. Data Plan 3000 gives you the following:

• 300 minutes calls to all networks
• 240 SMS to all networks
• Unlimited data

While Smart All-In Plan 2500 is actually a better plan, getting a Data Plan 3000 is tempting because of the devices Smart bundles in with this plan. You can get a Samsung Galaxy Note or Apple iPhone 4S 32GB free at this plan.

The Samsung Galaxy note is a massive Android phone or small tablet with phone function depending on how you look at it. It has a 5.3-inch Super AMOLED HD 800 x 1280 display. Inside it has 1GHz of RAM, a dual core 1.4GHz A9 processor and Mali 400MP graphics which makes it the biggest and baddest Smartphone in the Philippines. It has an 8MP camera, for storage it comes with 16GB of internal storage  expandable to 48GB via a MicroSD card and even comes with a stylus

If you are okay with the size it is one amazing device, and is more powerful than even the much publicized Google/Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

But the Galaxy Note is a love it or hate it device. 5.3-inches is just to big for me as phone (I use a 4.3-inch HTC Desire HD). On the other hand, if you like making calls with a Bluetooth headset, this could be best device on the market.

The other option, the iPhone 4S needs no introduction. It is a fast dual core phone with an excellent camera and excellent high resolution display. The only spoiler in our opinion is the small 3.5-inch screen. Still, if is a very handy sized phone, and if you like this size, it is the best smartphone at 3.5-inch more or less.

@Plan 2500/2499. Smart Communications best plans are it new All-In Plans. At All in Plan 2500 you can bundle unlimited calls other Smart mobiles, 2000 SMS to all networks unlimited data. The best Android powered device offered free (with a two year lock-in) at All-In Plan 2500 is the  HTC Sensation. Smart also offers the Windows powered HTC Mozart at All-In Plan 2500. This is the way we recommend you configure your All-In Plan 2500:

• Unlimited calls within the Smart network
• 2,500 SMS to all networks
• Unlimited data
• Php650 consumable for calls to other networks, NDD and IDD calls and SMS over 2,000 a month.

Smart offers the iPhone 4S 16GB at a similarly priced plan, Smart iPhone Plan 2499 which gives you the following:

• 300 minutes calls to all networks
• 300 SMS to all networks
• 1 GB of Data

The biggest downer in this plan is the cap on data at 1 GB. For the iPhone 4S to take full advantage of iCloud and Siri, unlimited data is a must.

At around Php2,500 for a monthly plan we would recommend getting the HTC Sensation instead with unlimited data and the ability to fire away 2,500 SMS a month. It is a good phone with a large 540 x 960 display and a dual core processor. It is not the best Android available, but it is good enough.

@Data Plan 2000. At Data Plan 2000 Smart offers the HTC Sensation XE, an upgraded version of the HTC Sensation with faster a faster 1.5GHz dual core processor, a larger battery and Beats earphones. Another option at this price point is the Nokia N9.

This 3.9-inch touchscreen phones runs on the MeeGo operating system and its novelty is that it has no hardware buttons, which is now also the course taken by the latest version of Android. With a 1GHz processor a single core core processor this phone is really more of a mid-level offering, but it is Nokia's flagship phone in the Philippines until the Windows Phone powered Nokia 800 hits local shores

You can also get a iPhone 4S 16 GB at Data Plan 2000 for just Php2,500 cash out.


@Lower plans. Smart also offers the iPhone 4S 16GB at lower plans but these plans do not make much sense. If you get the iPhone 4S at Data Plan 1500 you cash out Php12,500 for the phone. At Plan 999 you cash out Php999 a month for 24 months for the iPhone 4S 16GB.

• iPhone 4S 16GB @Data Plan 2000 - (Php2,000 x 24 months) + Php2,500 cash out = Php50,500
• iPhone 4S 16GB @Data Plan 1500 - (Php1,500 x 24 months) + Php12,500 cash out = Php48,500
• iPhone 4S 16GB @ Plan 999 - (Php999 x 24 months) + (Php999 x 24 months) = Php47,952

Might as well pay more for the plan (and get to use the Phone more) than pay more for the phone.

Samsung P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus

Samsung has released a successor to its popular (at least locally) Samsung P1000 Galaxy Tab. The P1000 Galaxy Tab was Samsung first tablet which ran on Android and sported a 7-inch screen, 1GHz processor and phone functionality. The new P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is an updated version of the original. 

The Good. The P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has received the expected speed bump with a dual core 1.2GHz processor and Mali-400 graphics and the new Tab is 20% thinner (9.9 mm) and 10% (345 g) lighter than the previous model.It also supports HSDPA 21.1+ connectivity, whereas last years model only came with a HSDPA 7.2 Mbps chip. The new P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus also runs on Android 3.2, a tablet OS, unlike the previous model which run an a phone operating system.

Internal storage is still 16GB, but it now support up to 64GB MicroSD cards which can give you a full 80 GB of internal storage.

The bad. Unfortunately, you do not get a a new HD screen with the Galaxy Tab. Unlike other Android tablets which have 800 x 1280 displays, the P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus has the same 600 x 1024 of the previous model.

Also despite having a dual core processor, video capture is listed as being limited to 720p instead of the 1080p most dual core devices are capable off.

The other specifications are similar to last years model, with a 3.2 MP primary camera, 1.3 secondary camera and a 4000 mAh battery.

Price. At Php23,900 it is priced at the same level as a 16GB WiFi only version of the Apple iPad 2 or a BlackBerry PlayBook, which makes the P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus a rather reasonable choice since you do get 3G connectivity and full phone functionality with the P6200 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus.

The only real let down in the screen resolution, but that again the larger 9.7-inch iPad 2 "only" has a 768 x 1024 resolution and the PlayBook has the same 600 x 1024 resolution, and many people (myself included) are satisfied enough with that.

What would be really nice is if Samsung released a lower cost WiFi only version of this device without phone functionality.

Is your iOS or Android device at risk from virus attacks and malware? - Part 2

Part 1 of this article is here.

The primary source of Android Apps is Google Android Market. By default most Android devices can only download apps from the Android Market. However, the settings allow you to download apps from different sources, like Amazons App Store for Android or directly from the publishers of an App, or even to install apps from the SD card. 

Android Market. Google does not pre-screen apps uploaded to the Android Market, so it is not too difficult to upload an app with malicious content. Instead of pre-screening apps, Google relies on its kill switch. If a malicious app is detected, Google removes it from the Android market, and if necessary wipe it from Android devices remotely. Yup, they can erase malicious apps on your Android device. Any security holes will likely be fixed by a patch.

Google has activated the kill switch to remove over 100 apps from users phones and has removed more from the market. With over 500,000 apps released during the life of Android, 100+ apps is not a very large number. Again, go to your favorite Android Forum and try to find the thread of users complaining about security. 

 

I think pre-screening should be done. In the absence of pre-screening, I would recommend not downloading new apps unless they are from reputable developers. Wait a few weeks before downloading apps from lesser known developers and even than, if no one else has been downloading it, or there is no user feedback, wait a bit longer. 

Other sources. The Amazon App Store for Android does pre-screen apps, so it is probably the safest place to download apps from. As for third party developers, you will have to evaluate if these developers are reputable.

Google maintains an open system. The price of more freedom is a little more responsibility. I do not use a virus or malware scanner on my Android. If you don't download new apps from unknown developers as soon as they are released and only download apps from reputable third parties, there is no need for a virus or malware scanner.

In the end? In the end, no system is completely secure. Given the data we store on mobile devices and the transactions we do on them, a little prudence is needed. I think iOS offers a bit more security, on the front end. Once something malicious gets through it is harder to fix. Android, well they have the kill switch to wipe out anything that gets through.

Is your iOS or Android device at risk from virus attacks and malware? - Part 1

There has been a lot of talk the past few weeks about malware for iOS and Android. A few weeks ago white hat hacker and security expert Charlie Miller successfully uploaded malware into Apple iOS App Store. Google has over the past year used its kill switch to remove about 100 malicious Android apps from user devices. 

You have VirusBarrier iOS in Apple's App Store and over a dozen different anti-virus anti-malware apps in the Android Market and the companies behind them hoping you install or buy their apps. Should you be concerned about virus and malware issues on you iOS or Android device?

How Apple protects you. Apple vets the apps found in the Apple App Store. It checks the app to make sure it does not contain a virus or malware before it is allowed to be posted in the App Store. Okay, one made it in and it was a pretty scary app.

The app Miller introduced in the Apple App Store was Instastock. Once Instastock is installed, the connects with a server in Miller's home and  allows Miller to run commands on the infected iOS device. These commands allows data to be stolen and device settings to be modified without you knowledge.

Exploiting a bug on iPhone is nothing new. That is how a iPhone is jailbroken in the first place. iOS security vulnerabilities have been found and patched in the past, and more will be found and patches in the future.

Is it something I would worry about? No. One app in 500,000 is nothing I would worry about. If another one did get through, Apple will send an over-the-air fix ASAP. No system is perfect, but a 0.000002% failure rate is something I would be happy to live with, and that 0.000002% figure actually is too high. It assume all iOS device users would download each and every app in the App Store.

Go over to you favorite forum and try to find a thread of someone who is complaining about iOS malware on their device. Than decide if you need anti-virus protection on your iOS device.

Does Jail-breaking add to the risk in iOS? Well yes, jailbreak your phone, install apps from unauthorized  sources, and yes, there is a additional risk depending on where you get your apps from. Apple's closed system designed to protect you won't be of much use one you get out of it. In this cases some form of anti-virus and malware protection is advisable.

Part 2 of this article is here.

Samsung Galaxy Note Pre-order Promo: Lightning strikes twice

Remember the Samsung Galaxy S II pre-order promo a few months back. The device was offered as a pre-order discount, with a free case, for a limited period. After the pre-order period the Samsung Galaxy S II immediately appeared on the store shelves at a below the suggested retail price which basically made only free case as th advantage for getting one on pre-order.

Well, it has happened again, this time with the Samsung Galaxy Note. The Galaxy Note has a suggested retail price of Php35,990, and was offered on a pre-order promo at a discounted price of Php33,990, plus a free flip case an a one months subscription to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Digital Edition valued at Php1,120.

Yesterday, the Galaxy Note showed up at CMK Cellphones at a price of Php31,000 with an official warranty from Samsung Philippines. Basically, from CMK you get the Galaxy Note at Php4,990 less than the suggested retail price, and and Php2,990 less than the pre-order price. 

So is the free flip case an a one months subscription to the Philippine Daily Inquirer Digital Edition worth Php2,990?

Samsung better get their pre-order promotion in order. This is getting tiring.

Samsung Galaxy Note on pre-order now

Samsung Galaxy Note is available for pre-order starting today. The Samsung Galaxy Note is a 5.29-inch device, which you could look at as the largest smartphone in the planet or as a small tablet. 

Whichever way you look at it, it is the most technologically advanced mobile device to this Philippine shores. The Samsung Galaxy Note has a full 720p (800 x 1280) screen. Inside is a dual-core 1.4GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor with Mali-400MP graphics which makes it a bit faster the current speed king, the Samsung Galaxy S II, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a 2500 mAh battery. The Samsung Galaxy Note also comes with a sytlus.

The price for all this goodness is a pretty steep Php35,990. If you pre-order the device you can avail of a P2,000 discount, get a free flip case as well as a 45-day subscription to Philippine Daily Inquirer Digital Edition valued at P1,120.

The better way to get the Note is to pre-order one and select the option to  avail it under Smart Communications Data Plan 2000. Smart will waive the first month fee and you still get a a free flip case. This means you pay Php46,000 over two years, get unlimited data (subject to some restrictions), and 150 minutes of calls and 200 SMS to all networks per month. This is a much better deal than buying one for cash.

You can pre-order your Samsung Galaxy Note at this link. Online reservation runs until November 18, 2011. Those who pre-order can claim their unit on November 19, 2011.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime - Notebook killing tablet

Intel is worried about tablets cannibalizing personal computer sales and had pushed Ultrabooks to counter this threat. Many felt tablets do not threaten laptops. Asus now shows you the reasons for Intel apprehensions. Apple iPad will eat into laptop purchases, but is really a complimentary device. Asus Eee Pad Transformer is really a laptop replacement in waiting, and the waiting is now over. 

Asus Eee Pad Transformer featured an detachable keyboard that when integrated converted the tablet into a laptop. The tablet can be folded over a keyboard dock and be carried just like a laptop. Other tablet makers have a desktop type keyboard dock which seem to assume you will only use the keyboard at home or in the office. Other  integrate the keyboard into the carry case which limits your ability to tilt the display. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer keyboard even has a touchpad. In other words it works like a tablet when undocked and a laptop when the keyboard is docked. 

Now you have the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. All the same attributes, in a slimmer more powerful package. 

Power. Inside you have the quad core Tegra 3 which will provide 2-5x more power than the older Tegra 2. At the same time, it is more energy efficient as it uses a single core, two cores or all four cores depending on the needs, each of which runs 1.3GHz. There is actually a fifth, Companion Core which runs at 500MHz which is used to play music, video or while on standby. Still, best to wait for the reviews before commenting too much on performance and battery life but the Tegra 3 is an amazing piece of technology.

However fast the Tegra turns out to be, it is closing the gap with desktop mobile processors.

Endurance.  In tablet mode Asus promises up to 12 hours of battery life, which is extended to up 18 hours in "laptop mode".

Package. With the dock and tablet combined the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is all of 0.74 inches thick and weighs in at 2.48 pounds. A very decent weight for a 10.1-inch ultraportable with an 18 hour battery life. A large portion of the weight is due to the Gorilla Glass protected display.

Storage. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime comes in a 32GB variant and a 64GB variant. In addition it comes with a MicroSD slot in the tablet and a full SD card slot in the dock. This means it can give you 96GB to 128GB or storage. Pretty much what you get from a 11-inch MacBook Air.

Price. All this comes as US$499 for the tablet plus, another US$149 for the dock for the 32GB model. The 64GB model comes in a US$599 for the tablet. At US$648 or US$748, it is very reasonably priced by Utlrabook standards. 

It will be out by December. Intel beware, ARM just got into the laptop business and it has got me thinking that my MacBook Air, might be my last pure laptop. 

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 - The best tablet option?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is now available in the Philippines. Two versions are available:

16GB, WiFi & 3G - Php24,500

32GB, WiFi & 3G - Php30,000

These prices make it the cheapest dual-core 3G capable tablet in the Philippines. Hardware wise, we also think it could the best, depending on your needs. 

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 has the specifications of you basic Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) dual core tablet. It has a 800 x 1280 screen, a dual core 1GHz processor on a Tegra 2 chipset, 1GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB (non-expandable storage), A-GPS, WiFi,  3G (HSDPA+ 21.1 mbps) and Bluetooth,  connectivity and HDMI and USB connectivity through an adapter. It also comes with two camera's capable of 720p video recording. It also has full phone functionality. So it is the most fully feature tablet in the Philippine market.

What is to like, hardware wise? The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 has a smaller 8.9-inch screen compared to its competitors, but this also gives it a much lighter weight.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 - 453g

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 - 560g

Apple iPad 2 - 607g

Acer Iconia - 730g

We also like it best price wise for a 3G tablet.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 16GB, 3G & WiFi - Php24,500

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 16GB, 3G & WiFi - Php27,500

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 16GB, 3G & WiFi - Php30,000

Apple iPad 2 16GB, 3G & WiFi - Php30.990

Apple iPad 2 16GB, 3G & WiFi - Php35.990

Smaller but still substantial screen, in exchange for the lighter weight seems to be worth it. It is 15% lighter than its bigger brother, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 25% lighter than the Apple iPad 2. 

Ultimately, 10-inch tablets are used on tables the same way we use netbooks and laptops. If used a tablet on a table, I really would much rather use a laptop. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is a more mobile device. Something which is easier to use in hand than its larger 10.1-inch siblings.

With Ice Cream Sandwich having been launched, more and more Android apps will be optimized for 720p screens. It could be the right time for an Android tablet.

Would I buy it? Well no. I do not feel the need for 3G on a tablet. I already have it on my phone. Basically, I would rather not have to maintain a second line. Since I do not appreciate 3G, than things like Apple iPad 2 16GB WiFi only version is still a cheaper option at Php23,990. I also do not need full phone functionality on a tablet, so that score no points we me either.

Second, I do not like being an early adopter. Ice Cream Sandwich has been launched so more and more Android apps will be optimized for 720p screens, but I will have to wait for those. Apple has 100,000 tablet optimized apps now, though they usually cost twice as much as iPhone apps.

So it is a hard choice. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 is compelling hardware wise and there are more free apps on the Android Market. It is both a tablet and a phone is that is important for. But for a pure tablet, Apple iPad's are still the safer bet. For Php24.5K, I would not want to be an early adopter.

Is the Tablet the next Netbook?

It has been a year and a half since Apple launched its successful iPad. If you read technology sites all around the world, it would seem that the tablet will kill the personal computer. 

iPad make excellent gaming platforms among other things.

I got a tablet in January 2011 and quickly passed it off to my wife. It has been less useful than it looked. Basically, I am sticking to the laptop and smartphone combination from now on, and will sit on the sidelines watching the tablet market with interest.

In one year and one quarter since its launch, as of June 2011, 28.7 million iPads have been sold. Android tablets, sales are estimated at less than 3 million since their release.

In one quarter, Gartner reports that almost 92 million personal computers, not including tablets, have been sold. That is in just one quarter versus five quarters of tablet sales. Could the tablet be the next netbook? Something to tide us over in though economic times?

Tablets share a lot with netbooks. Like the netbook they are cheap and portable. Like the netbook they are of limited use. Overall, while tablets are more functional than netbooks, most of what you can do in a tablet, you can do on a smartphone. Android tablets have a higher mountain to climb. The latest generation of smartphones are really now mini-tablets.

Lenovo tries to define a role for its tablet.

Is the tablet the next netbook? Or are we entering the era of keyboard less computing.  I think, tablet will fail as a productivity device, but makes a excellent multimedia and gaming platform. Basically, I do not see it going away, neither do I see it growing as much as predictive by experts. This one is too hard to call.  Would love to hear you chime in.

Update: We got some new data on tablet sales from Digitimes for the third Quarter of 2011. So are the figures from both Gartner and Digitimes for comparison -

Desktop and laptops - 92 million.
Tablets - 18.9 million (13 million Apple iPads and 5.9 million tablets of other brands)

Acer ICONIA TAB A100 8GB

The Acer ICONIA TAB A100 8GB is a WiFi only locally available 7-inch tablet powered by Google Android Honeycomb 3.2 operating system. Honeycomb 3.2 is version optimized for 7-inch screens.

The  Acer ICONIA TAB A100 which is priced at Php17,900 with its primary is the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab, priced at around Php2,000 less. Another 7-inch alternative is the QNX powered BlackBerry PlayBook which is price Php6,000 more.

The Acer ICONIA TAB A100 has the same 600 x 1024 resolution as the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and actually has less internal storage at 8GB versus the 16 GB found in the Galaxy Tab. The advantages of the Acer ICNONIA TAB A100 is that it is a Nvidia Tegra 2 system with a dual 1GHZ Cortex A9 processor and a Ultra Low Power GeForce GPU backed by 1GB of RAM. This roughly gives it twice the punch of the Galaxy Tab and enough power to play the latest games being released. Another advantage over the Galaxy Tab is the the Acer ICONIA has HDMI out so you can plug it in to your LCD TV. It also comes with the expected MicroSD slot allowing you to expand storage to up to 40GB It also has 

It is the best 7-inch tablet in the market for those who do not need 3G connectivity. That being said, it does not have all that much competition either.

Time to rethink the Android tablet?

Amazon's Kindle Fire has laid down the gauntlet, the powerful dual core Kindle Fire cuts down on some features, which I do not think will be missed (and a few that might), but it got 95,000 pre-orders in one day, and it only sells in the US for now. It would have been at least 95,001 if they let me order it from the Philippines. 

The gauntlet has been laid, a 7-inch Android tablet costs US$199. In apparent response prices for the HTC Flyer and BlackBerry PlayBook has dropped with some retailers to US$299.

When I saw the specifications for the Xoom, last February, I was thinking, what was Motorola thinking. It turned out, these specifications became the standard for the industry. In the end, there is too much fat on an Android tablet, and this does result in higher costs.

An Android tablet (and an iPad for that matter) pretty much mimics all the capabilities of our smartphones, except for call and text functionality. Some tablets are actually fully capable phones. The question is why. I think it is fair to assume a tablet owner would also own a smartphone.

Drop the primary camera. Maybe we need a secondary camera for video calls, but why have a primary camera? A smartphone is really a more convenient size for taking pictures and video. 

Drop GPS. A smartphone also makes a better navigation device. Imagine cradling your 10.1-inch tablet on your cars dashboard. Apps requiring location can get the info from cellular towers and WiFi signals.

Rethink the 720p screen on smaller tablets. The 600 x 1024 screen on the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab is good enough and the one on the 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook is gorgeous.

Decide what it is for, and build it for a dedicated purpose. With laptops, you have high end gaming machines and lower end general purpose device. Each tablet coming out embodies the latest technology the market has to offer. This could be replicated having dual core gaming and media tablets, and single core web browsing tablets with less RAM. Yes, you can have your uber tablets too with 3D camera's, a 3D display, GPS and a 1080p screen.

Lower end tablets do exist, but from manufacturers which make us think, twice and thrice about the source.

In the end all this might just save a few dollars, but people expect Android tablets to be cheaper than iPad's, and smaller tablets cheaper than larger ones, so every peso (or dollar) does count.

The Amazon KIndle tablet - An Android tablet done right

Amazon has launched it long awaited tablet, the Kindle Fire. The Kindle Fire is a Android powered tablet with a 7-inch (1024 x 600 resolution) screen, a dual core processor, 8GB of internal storage which uses WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity. The Android operating system on the Kindle Fire is heavily customized by Amazon.

The Kindle Fire does not have 3G connectivity, GPS, cameras and a mic. From a hardware standpoint, it does not compete with the Apple iPad 2, RIM's PlayBook or any of the Google Android Honeycomb Tablets. It makes no pretense of being a productivity device, and squarely defines itself multimedia entertainment device which hardware wise is more of a competitor to the Nook Color. 

As a multimedia device the Kindle Fire offers much more than the Nook Color and  does take aim at Apple iPad market with its access to Amazon Books, Movies, TV shows, music and Android apps. While Amazon's Kindle Fire does not compete against Apple iPad 2 in terms of hardware, it does so content wise. At US$199 the Kindle Fire takes aim at the iPad for US$300 less.

The Kindle Fire also offers an interesting web browser service with Amazon Silk, which seems to offer a server side compression, similar to what Opera provides for its browser, which Amazon promises will give users an incredibly fast experience. This is the first device specific service implementation of that kind of service that I know off.   

I do not know if the Kindle Fire will affect Apple iPad 2 sales. I am sure a fair number of people who were thinking about buying an iPad 2 will look at Amazon's offer and will consider it a better deal. What the Kindle Fire is sure to do is broaden the tablet market. It is the first Android tablet done correctly.

The Apple iPad was released as a multimedia device. With the popularity of the tablet, Android Honeycomb tablets, the iPad 2 and RIM's Playbook, have been marketed more and more as the modern personal computer heralding the "post-PC era". Newer tablet designs replicate the technology already found in our mobile phones. Some Android tablets even offer voice call and SMS functionality.  Other Android tablets designs try to replace laptops.

Biting into this "tablet frenzy", tablet manufacturers seem to think the consumer will be willing to pay nearly any amount of money for a shiny new tablet for as long as it bundles it with more and more cutting edge features.

The Kindle Fire makes a nice addition to your smartphone and personal computer and is priced as an accessory device.  While I expect the Kindle Fire to take a fairly large bite off the Apple iPad market share, it really will put more pressure on Android tablet manufacturers.  The Kindle Fire redefines the tablet as to what it originally was, a dedicated multimedia platform and not the overpriced post-PC device many have been making it out to be. 

In the end, the post-PC era is not about replacing the PC, but just that the PC really is no longer the only game in town as a tool for web access. It really means little more than that. All the rest is tablet hype. Amazon seems to understand this better than anyone else right now, and it will sell millions of these things.

Is the tablet at toy?

Sara Yin of PC Magazine has an interesting article entitled "Tablets Are Still Seen As Toys, Survey Says". I am not replicating all the data reported there in this post, so you may want to read that article first before this commentary. 

The article cites data from a CitiGroup survey. The most important findings I think are the following:

"Sixty-two percent of the 1,800 consumers surveyed said that if they do buy a tablet within the next 12 months, it's because they want a new "toy or a gadget." That figure is even higher than the sentiment captured in November 2010, when only 44 percent of those surveyed checked the "toy or gadget" box.

A large portion of the buying public has always questioned whether tablets are really serious tools for doing work with good reason. 

First is the absence of a keyboard. Sure there is a virtual keyboard, but that puts us back to the situation of typing on a small cramped device. Many of us never enjoyed typing on netbooks, why would we enjoy typing on a tablet. 10-inches diagonal is just too small for a proper keyboard.

Second, although this is limited to the Apple iPad, and not tablets in general, is that it does not even have a built in file manager. No way I could keep track of the 4,000+ documents I have on my laptop there (although Dropbox can fix this problem to a great degree for this willing to go the cloud route). 

So, is it a toy or not. I think it depends on who you are and what you do. If you spend a lot of time on documents and spreadsheets, well a tablet is not going to become your primary work machine. If you need a device to do on-line research,  taking notes in meetings and conferences and the like than it could be a very productive tool. They should really bring back the stylus though.

"Citigroup surveyed 1,800 users interested in tablets from the U.S., U.K. and China. Those in China signaled the most interest in buying a tablet; 26 percent said they were 'very likely' to buy a tablet, compared to 12 percent in the U.S. and Britain."

From this I gather that where tablet penetration is greatest, the interest in tablets declines. People who have not owned one and only tried one for a few minutes are impressed by the new device. Many owners eventually find out they really wont replace their laptop and its track pad, relegating the tablet to a alternative device that serves no particular purpose.  

In the end, it is more of a big smart phone than a PC replacement.

Between my wife and I, we have three laptops (one serves the function of a desktop), two smart phones, a feature phone and a tablet. The tablet gets the least use among the three, but it does go with us pretty much wherever we go. Being a small 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab it is always tucked in my wifes handbag. 

So while not used to much, its greatest value is that it keeps the laptops at home more often serving as a less than capable device that can sub for a laptop when a unexpected need arises. That being said, if it broke, well we probably would not replace it. If one of laptops our smart phones died on us, they would be replaced in 24 hours.

In sum, I do not see a tablet as a toy. Whether it is a toy or not, depends on the needs of the user.

One issue not covered by the Citigroup survey is whether there is a tablet market or just an iPad market. The dominance of iPad's does hint at the toy theory, that people just want a tablet if it has an apple on its back. I think it is not that simple.

The demand for non-Apple tablets is really going to be less by nature. Let me explain.

1. Those who are comfortable with the Apple ecosystem do not really have low cost laptops as an option. The cheapest MacBook cost 50K here, and the cheapest iPad is less than half of that at 24K.  Those not invested the Apple ecosystem could get a 24K (or even cheaper tablet) or a 11.6-inch AMD Fusion powered ultraportable for 24K or less. An Apple netbook might sell really well too.

2. iPhone users do not really have larger screen options. I think the iPhone's being limited right now to 3.5-inch screen actually boosts iPad sales. Android users who feel 3.2 to 3.7-imches is not big enough constant use, might simply opt to get a larger 4.3-inch to 4.7-inch smart phone which they might find big enough to do and forgo a tablet. If Apple started offer monster iPhones, some iPad buyers may feel that it big enough.

Basically, people invested in the Apple ecosystem have the best reasons to buy tablet. Windows users and Android users really have more hardware options. 

Around the web: Asus Eee Pad Slider and Samsung Galaxy Note - Tablets of a different kind

Hardware Zone Philippines has a in-depth look at the Asus Eee Pad Slider. While this thing looked interesting at CES 2011, after reading Hardware Zone Philippines review, I realized this device is not as interesting as it initially looks. It is essentially a ARM powered notebook, with a small keyboard. Still, it weighs in at a reasonable 2 pounds. I think I would be much happier with something more conventional like an ARM powered Asus Eee PC X101 with a touchscreen and larger keyboard.

PinoyTechBlog takes a look at the new 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note and looks at whether it is a smartphone or a tablet. Actually, where it fit make perfect sense to me. 

In some ways tablets replace the paper. As pure paper replacements, their primary use is as follows:

The 6-inch Kindle was designed to mimic a paperback book.

The 9.7-inch iPad primarily was designed to for viewing more colorful and interactive media in the form of newspapers, magazines and comic books.

The 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note looks like a nice replacement for your diary and a Reporters Notepad.

A NYT Reporters Notepad from brandbook.de.

One size will really not fit all. But with the Samsung Galaxy Note reportedly being priced at over US$1,000, I am not sure how many will find the Note to be the right fit for them.

Acer ICONIA TAB A500 & A501 are very competively priced for the 32GB models

The Acer ICONIA TAB A500 is a 10.1-inch (800 x 280) Google Android Honeycomb tablet with a dual core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 proccessor, ULP GeForce GPU on a Tegra 2 T20 chipset. Priced at 21,900 for the WiFi only 16GB model, it is not very interesting as against the Php23,900 Apple iPad 2. The price difference of 2K probably wont be enough to swing to many buyers.

Note: Some shops like PCCorner have the 16GB version price much lower at Php19,500 making it 4.4K cheaper than the entry level iPad 2.

The Acer ICONIA TAB A500 does have move interesting storage options, with a MicroSD card slot which will allow you to expand storage to 48GB and a full sized USB 2.0 port for Flash Drives.

Moving up the line, to the WiFi only 32GB ICONIA TAB A500, the price gets more interesting. At Php23,900 it is a lot cheaper than the 32GB WiFi only Apple iPad 2 priced at Php28,990. That is now all of 6K less, and you can expand storage to 64GB with the MicroSD card slow, plus you still have the full sized USB 2.0 port.

But Acer has just released its most interesting offering, the ICONIA TAB A501, with 32GB of internal storage plus WiFi and 3G connectivity. At Php28,900 ICONIA TAB A501 is cheaper than the cheapest 3G version of the iPad 2 (16GB) which is at 30,990. The 32GB 3G iPad 2 comes in at Php35,990, which is all of 7K more.

Are laptops getting boring?

Former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt in a recent interview withCNN answered this question pretty well. When asked "So, doesthat mean the PC is dead?", he responded:

Well, the PC will be used forthings where you need to do a lot of typing. Because it's hard totype on that glass screen. But, for everything else, you're going tobe using a mobile device - a tablet or a mobile phone or some kind ofmobile, small thing that you'll carry around. They're inherentlybetter. They're more personal. With your permission, they know whoyou are, they can make suggestions to you - that kind of thing.

So, the PC, which, remember, grew outof the IBM desktop model sitting in a corporation, makes perfectsense for somebody who sits at a desk all day. A lot of peopledon't.

A few years back I was excited about the new laptops being released. As they have gotten faster, each new generation seems to offer less new than the rest. We had longer battery life, cheap graphics that could play HD content and affordable light chassis to keep things interesting the past few years. Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge really don't interest me all that much. I do not spend my time running benchmarks.  

But compared to mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, they are getting boring. What the software in our laptops do has not really change all that much since good old Windows 98. Mobile devices have made really interesting uses of their camera's, from barcode readers to augmented reality. GPS have made these devices really smart, allowing you to keep informed of the local weather and conditions around you. "With your permission, they know who you are, they can make suggestions to you..." 

The laptop will always have a place in my set of tools. A 13-inch screen is a size for carry and viewing. I do type a lot, so I will need the physical keyboard. But I think I will keep my devices longer and longer. I do not see myself replacing my late 2011 13-inch MacBook Air until it physically dies on me. The main advantage of my MacBook Air to my other laptop, a HP Compaq 6510b, was 3x the battery life, better graphics, SSD drives and half the weight.

It is going to take more than current Sandy Bridge MacBook Air or next years Ivy Bridge version to convince me to upgrade. Maybe drop another half a pound and give me another four hours of battery life and we will talk, well maybe.

On the other hand, I do not know how long I will hold on to my HTC Desire HD, when the new dual core Android 4.0 (Ice Cream) handsets with their giant 720p screens come out. Now that gets me excited. I am sure the iPad 3 will cause a stir with the tablet crowd too. My next laptop... am guessing I am not buying another one till 2013.

The perfect Tablet PC

Lenovo has made Tablet PC's for a long time, but their over Php100K prices and their weight made them expensive and a but heavy for something to be carried in hand. I remember when I first saw the X41 Tablet six years ago and have been wanting one ever since. From a practical standpoint it was hard to justify. The Lenovo Thinkpad X41 Tablet weighed in at 3.6 pounds, and with an extended battery that would go up to 4.3 pounds.

Five years later, the same problem still hounds the Tablet PC. The current model Lenovo X220 Tablet weighs in at 3.9 pounds, and that is with a four cell battery. While 3.9 pounds is fine for a laptop it is a bit ungainly for a tablet. Lenovo does have its new light Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, with a detachable keyboard, but I really would prefer one that had a swivel to allow the screen to rotate and fold over the keyboard. I would also like it to have a larger keyboard than the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet.

Cut out some weight. Apple can build an 11.6-inch Intel Core i5 MacBook laptop and bring the weight down to 2.5 pounds. From Lenovo's Tablet PC's converting its ultraportables into a tablet adds about 0.6 pounds. It would seem feasible to built a 11.6-inch X220 Tablet type device at 3 pounds of less.

Starting with the 3.9 pound weight of the X220 Tablet, cutting its 12.5-inch screen to 11.6-inch should result in some reduction in weight. Inside, instead of an Core i5 processor which needs a design that can handle a thermal design point of 35W, I would be happy with AMD Fusion chip which only has a 9W TDP or even better, a dual core ARM processor which will only need a chassis designed to dissipate less than 4W of heat. Instead of a 500GB hard drive, 64GB of flash storage should be enough. What OS? Well if an AMD Fusion machine, than Windows or one of the Linux operating systems. If an ARM machine, Android or Linux. 

So how about it Lenovo?