Switched On: The Yoga Tablet does kickstands with a twist

If one takes a narrow view of the tablet market, the largest PC makers have fared especially poorly as a group. At the launch of the iPad, HP, Dell, Acer and Lenovo had little experience with the Android ecosystem, which itself was not optimized for tablets. And Windows, their go-to operating system, was still not available in a version that would show off bold, finger-friendly tiles and yield long battery life in a slim form factor. Even now as these companies have experimented with all kinds of hinges and accessories on Windows, their Android efforts can be hard to differentiate as with HP's Slate 7 and Dell's recent 7- and 8-inch slates.

Into this spiritless landscape, Lenovo has dropped the Yoga Tablet, available in 8- and 10-inch sizes. Unlike its namesake Windows laptop, which reveals no obvious signs of its differentiation at first glance, the Yoga Tablet has a silver, cylindrical side that is reminiscent of extended laptop batteries. Indeed, it contains the battery here as well as making for a grip that is at first unfamiliar, but which allows the rest of the tablet to be very thin.

The Yoga Tablet's name makes "Yoga" a rare sub-brand that spans Windows and Android devices. To preserve the versatility behind the name, Lenovo had to get creative in its marketing of the Yoga Tablet, which includes among its three usage scenarios "hold mode" (the tablet-equivalent default of "laptop mode"), "tilt mode" (lying flat at a slight angle well-suited for typing) and "stand mode." The latter requires extending out the device's kickstand, in similar fashion to Microsoft's Surface.

Speaking of the Surface and its now-famous kickstand, the Yoga Tablet's stand allows more granularity in its tilting range, but tilting it too far back will cause the device to fall. On the other hand, the Surface's kickstand can be used vertically in a pinch while the Yoga Tablet's works only in landscape mode.

Lenovo has also released a Bluetooth keyboard cover for the 10-inch Yoga Tablet. Still, unlike the Surface, Lumia 2520, Dell Venue 11 Pro and other large Windows tablets, there seems to be less effort focused on how to recreate the laptop and more on low pricing to stay competitive with other Android tablets. As with the original Sony Tablet S' wedge design, there's something to be said for a bit of bulk at one end to help hold a large-screened device in one hand. In all, the Yoga Tablet's kickstand-enhanced cylinder helps what is otherwise a competitively priced tablet with mediocre specifications stand out, particularly in the 8-inch segment, and represents a rare, welcome and useful experimentation with the Android tablet form factor.

BY: Ross Rubin is principal analyst at Reticle Research, a research and advisory firm focusing on consumer technology adoption. He shares commentary at Techspressiveand on Twitter at@rossrubin.

Source: Engadget

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Google to dam kid sex abuse search results globally over following six months

Eric schmidt himself took to British press to announce that Google has created an enormous step in ridding its search results of links to underage statutory offense -- with some image detection help from Microsoft. The Google chairman aforesaid he employed a 200-strong team to figure out an answer over the last 3 months which their work has already restored to a hundred,000 potential queries. the united kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron has welcome the news as "significant progress." he is additionally praised Google's previous set of measures, that displayed a warning to folks making an attempt to go looking for outlawed material and caused a twenty % call illicit activity. For now, Google's newest enhancements area unit restricted to communicative  countries, as well as the united kingdom and US, though the search company says it's going to roll out its adjusted search globally over future six months, covering 158 a lot of languages.

VIA: Engadget

Source: Daily Mail

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Researchers produce self-healing batteries galvanized by artificial mechanism skin

In the race to make a more robust battery, scientists have gazed with longing at semiconducting material, prized for its ability to carry copious energy throughout charging. the fabric features a important downside, however: it likes to expand throughout aforementioned charging, inflicting it to eventually crack and become useless. However, scientists at Stanford's SLAC laboratory have developed semiconducting material electrodes that repair themselves, impressed by -- of all things -- the most recent analysis into robotic skin. They created a semiconducting material compound with weak chemical bonds which are a magnet for one another once the fabric cracks, permitting it to regain its form in a very few hours (as pictured above). The team managed a decent one hundred discharge cycles with battery that used the fabric, a promising begin however still removed from their goal of three,000 cycles for an electrical vehicle. you'll be able to add that to the growing pile of promising battery school which will quantity to one thing, some day -- however a minimum of the chances keep recuperating.

Source: Engadget

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Android 4.3 Update coming to Galaxy Note 2 phone within days

"SamMobile" website  famous and interested with Samsung devices news Confirmed that the Korean company will begin to release updated Android 4.3 in a few days and it expected that the update will carry all the benefits obtained by the Samsung phones recently, such as support Samsung watch and add "knox"  protection application and wallet application "samsung wallet" and new Samsungas Keyboard well as the reforms and improvements to the performance of the device.

Samsung had promised earlier to update devices Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4 and Note 2 before the end of 2013 during the announcement of the Galaxy Note 3.

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Million copies have been sold of the PlayStation 4 only after 24 hours of its launch

According to Sony today, that since it was launched apparatus PlayStation 4 to the U.S. market and the Canadian it was selling a million copies only, after only 24 hours since it was launched and therefore the device to achieve great successes at the beginning of his career, according to Sony in advance that it intends to sell 3 million copies of theapparatus and the device will be launched market Alawrorba in Europe and in Australia, while the Saudi market will be available in December.

Source: kotaku

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Twitter scraps humanoid app design previewed to testers, concocts a hybrid interface

A bunch of Twitter's alpha and beta testers for mechanical man might need discharged up their apps nowadays, and thought they'd been kicked out of the program. After all, the social network recently scrapped the new style it debuted to audacious early adopters in September and brought its older relive. The acquainted buttons take their place on high of the app once more, exchange the menu that allowed testers to swipe their method from one stream to a different. Twitter took components from each styles, though, therefore it's not an entire throwback to the previous interface. Alpha users, particularly, see a completely totally different Discover section that options a basic list read and an in depth read that shows sample tweets. Also, the prompt that pops up once you post a tweet comes with a note that reads "Are you in [city, state]?" below "What's happening?" in step with TechCrunch, the microblogging website has been obtaining mixed feedback from its testers, that could've influenced the firm's call. regardless of the real reason is, it's like Twitter has over many kinks left to iron out before it unleashes Associate in Nursing overhauled app to the final world.

Source: Engadget

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Report: Apple buys PrimeSense, co-creators of the initial Kinect

Remember that Apple / PrimeSense deal that was reported to be happening in July? it should have simply gone through: consistent with Israeli news supply Calcalist, Cupertino noninheritable  the motion sensing technology firm for $345 million this weekend. If true, it may hint at future Apple merchandise with natural, motion controlled interfaces, group action constant quite technology that PrimeSense wont to facilitate Microsoft build the primary Kinect. in a very statement to the TheNextWeb, PrimeSense refers to the report as a "recycled rumor," expression solely that it "does not discuss what any of our partners, customers or potential customers do." consistent with the report, Apple is hounding once the motion sensing school to enhance Apple TV, noting that the initial deal was delayed owing to legal problems. Hungry for more? Brush au courant your Hebrew and inspect the supply link below - however keep your salt shaker handy.

Source : Engadget

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8 off-contract smartphones contend while not breaking the bank

This season is shaping up to be the year that obtaining a solid new robot smartphone does not additionally mean linguistic communication up for twenty-four months of ever-increasing monthly fees at constant time.

The trend faraway from flagship phones that needed such massive commitments so as to lock down a high quality device for underneath $400 arguably started last year with the discharge of the Nexus four from Google, offered unlatched for simply $299.

This year, Google stuffed in a number of the gaps with the Nexus five, that -- in contrast to its precursor -- comes with LTE support and is once more offered for [*fr1] the worth of different flagships, and with the newest version of robot KitKat in addition.

While the Nexus five currently represents maybe the most effective all around price in an exceedingly smartphone, I half-track down over [*fr1] a dozen different devices that additionally provide good phones at nice costs -- the maximum amount as fifty % below the worth of even the Nexus five.

Browse through our gallery of smartphone steals below and let Maine grasp within the comments and on Twitter (@crave and @ericcmack) if I've left any out.

8 super smartphone bargains with no contracts :

Nexus 5

With the Nexus four, Google was among the primary to point out that a high-quality smartphone can be offered unbarred and off-contract for 0.5 the worth of different massive names. A year later, differents area unit commencing to enter the sector with less-expensive advanced devices which will be owned  outright with none other strings connected, however Google's new Nexus five still leads the pack. The Nexus four successor comes with LTE, a pretty HD show, a flower 800 processor, and humanoid KitKat, for simply $349. At the instant it offers the simplest overall price within the smartphone world.

Yezz 'Andy' series

You seemingly haven't detected of Yezz, that ab initio targeted Spanish-speaking countries however is within the method of re-centering its efforts on Europe and North America. The Miami-based company has introduced its "Andy" line of unbolted, dual-SIM automaton phones that go along with middle to higher-end specs together with a thirteen megapixel camera on its topping Andy A5 model. Some corners are move bring the worth right down to between $149 and $299 -- particularly lackluster displays and therefore the absence of LTE -- however the style of the Andy is way nicer than different cut price basement automaton choices, and therefore the device offers plenty valuable, significantly if you are looking for a phone to travel internationally with.

Moto G

It will not arrive within the U.S. till January, however Motorola's Moto G brings the elegant style of the Moto X to a rather stripped, LTE-less model that may be on the market unbolted beginning at simply $179. If the Moto G additionally gets robot KitKat by January, as Motorola's CEO has already secure for the Moto X, it may become a sleeper favorite for anyone World Health Organization needs a good phone however does not would like the newest and greatest.

Moto X (Republic Wireless)

Republic Wireless is providing some intriguing new smartphone choices for subscribers. The carrier, that operates on the Sprint network, conjointly offers Wi-Fi-only plans for as very little as $5 a month. Its costliest arrange with unlimited 4G speak, text, and knowledge remains solely $40 monthly, all while not a contract. Normally, the catch with carriers providing postpaid or inexpensive plans like this can be that you simply got to choose between a few of junk phones to use with them.

But recently, Republic Wireless more the Moto X to its lineup, and for under $299 -- roughly [*fr1] off its full unlatched value. and that is the minor catch here: The Republic Moto X is absolutely secured down, and whereas there is not any contracts, you will not very be able to use the phone unless you are forking over a minimum of $5 a month to Republic. the great news is that you simply will upgrade and downgrade between the varied plans the maximum amount as you would like. within the end of the day, this can be in all probability the most affordable thanks to get your hands on a Moto X.

Verykool s470 Black Pearl

Like Yezz, San Diego-based Verykool offers quality middle-range mechanical man phones unlatched and off-contract for fewer then [*fr1] the value of what you'd purchase a flagship from the likes of a Samsung. The Black Pearl is analogous in size and form to a Galaxy S4 however has no LTE support and a mediocre camera. however it comes with some neat package tweaks and prices solely $230 with no different strings or shackles hooked up.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

At first, the budget version of the mighty Galaxy S4 was offered at a ridiculous off-contract worth that was primarily an equivalent as its flagship relation. Since then, Amazon has born the worth of associate unbolted Galaxy S4 mini down below $400. If you liked  what you saw within the lifesize Galaxy S4 however simply found it absurdly huge, then the mini may well be a solid alternative which will additionally avoid wasting benefit the long-standing time.

BLU Studio 5.5

BLU is not notably documented in North America, however it is a go-to name for tight smartphones at nice costs in Latin America and alternative elements of the globe. Its latest effort is that the GSM-centric BLU Studio five.5, that comes with a five.5-inch show, a skinny profile, and a selection of colours, a la the iPhone 5C. not like the 5C tho', it's on the market off contract and unlatched for simply $179.

Even additional thus than the similar Yezz and Verykool offerings during this gallery, BLU's specs will not rise up to the likes of a Galaxy S4. there is solely 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, and a five megapixel camera. that is the worst of it, though. The 1.2GHz quad-core processor ought to get the task done, Associate in Nursingd an HSPA+ radio ought to get tight speeds on AT&T and T-Mobile within the U.S.

Nokia Lumia 520/521

Let's decision this one a readers' alternative. whereas I originally omitted these budget Windows phones as a result of they are a bit older, variety of you have got i believe justifiedly (and typically discourteously, this being the internet) created the argument that the Lumia 520 (available on AT&T's postpaid program for $99 or unlatched for $149) and Lumia 521 (on T-Mobile for $99) represent a good comprehensive worth. Given the value and also the general overall quality of the Lumia line, i am inclined to feature associate degree eighth (and ninth) phone to the current list.

Source: CNET

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Android powers four in every five smartphones thanks to growth in China

Gartner's third-quarter smartphone analysis report is out, and on the surface it paints a really adulatory portrait for Google. Mirroring Strategy Analytics' report at the tip of last month, Gartner additionally estimates that humanoid has crossed the symbolic eighty % mark, reaching eighty one.9 % of smartphone shipments within the half-moon, a 9.3 % rise from last year. compared, analysts believe sales of Apple smartphones born a pair of.2 share points over the year to carry twelve.1 % of the smartphone market. Microsoft continuing to require tiny steps to spice up its market share, with Nokia's sturdy North American country sales serving to Windows Phone grow to three.6 % of the market. Lenovo's spectacular run of smartphone sales helped it nearly taciturnly climb to variety 3, leapfrogging LG within the method.

Before we have a tendency to decision off the smartphone battle and declare Google the winner (an eighty one.9 % share is large in any market), Gartner's report will purpose to the key factors behind Android's growth. China accounted for an enormous forty one % of all humanoid sales within the half-moon, up seven % from a year agone, helped by sales of Coolpad and Xiaomi smartphones. sadly for Google, the bulk of Chinese humanoid devices don't utilize the Play Store and run made-to-order builds of its ASCII text file package. In October, analyst Benedict Evans steered simply six % of Chinese app installs were created via Google's app marketplace, serving to add some balance to Google's mobile dominance.

Although humanoid is in no danger of losing its commanding market share (Samsung accounted for nearly one in each 3 smartphones sold-out globally), Apple's iPhone unleash cycle weighs heavily on Gartner's third-quarter report. With the iPhone 5s and 5c having had thus very little time to influence the stats, thanks to the actual fact that they'd just about reached several major markets, we're holding out for Gartner's next instalment for this autumn to induce a higher live of Apple's progress.

Source: Engadget

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MapQuest updates iOS 7 and Android apps with modern UI, route status bar

With Google, Apple and Nokia creating such a lot fuss concerning navigation lately, it is easy to forget smart 'ol MapQuest. that does not mean it is not still going robust, though, as proved  by the service's plans to launch updated apps for iOS seven and golem someday nowadays. The apps can get a very redone program that appears far more trendy and takes advantage of higher-res displays. though most of MapQuest's options might not be all that totally different from what you'd notice on alternative map services, the app introduces one specific feature we've ne'er seen before: a standing bar on the highest of the app that shows your full route at a look and indicates time and distance to your destination moreover as that components (and however much) of your commute can involve significant traffic. The service remains functioning on adding directions for transit and bikes, and will be within the next version; we're told that these, in conjunction with additional travel integrations and products enhancements, ar on the roadmap for 2014. As a sidenote, users of iOS half-dozen and below will not get today's update, and instead can continue victimisation identical version they've already become aware of. If you are on iOS seven or golem, however, it'll show up as Associate in Nursing update to the present versions already within the App Store and Play Store.

Source: Engadget

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