Tuesday 31 December 2013

Spanish luxury home prices could fall modestly in the New Year, agents predict - Property Wire



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Saturday 28 December 2013

PC makers plan rebellion against Windows at 2014 CES, analysts say


The LG Chromebase, an all-in-one computer running Google's Chrome operating system, rather than the traditional Windows. It's one of an increasing variety of threats to Microsoft's dominance on the desktop.LG


Fearing rapidly plummeting sales of traditional laptops and desktop computers -- which collapsed by as much as 10 percent in 2013 -- manufacturers are planning a revolution against Microsoft and the standard Windows operating system, analysts say.


At the mammoth Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in early January, multiple computer makers will unveil systems that simultaneously run two different operating systems, both Windows and the Android OS that powers many of the world's tablets and smartphones, two different analysts said recently. The new devices will be called 'PC Plus' machines, explained Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies.


'A PC Plus machine will run Windows 8.1 but will also run Android apps as well,' Bajarin wrote recently for Time. 'They are doing this through software emulation. I'm not sure what kind of performance you can expect, but this is their way to try and bring more touch-based apps to the Windows ecosystem.'


'This should scare the heck out of Microsoft.'

- Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy


These machines will be able to switch nearly instantly between the two operating systems, according to Computerworld, either booting both interfaces at the same time or running tablet apps meant for Android within a window, explained Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy.


'This is going to make buzz at CES,' Moorhead told Computerworld. 'OEMs will be trumpeting this ... it's going to be a very hot topic [at the trade show].'


The move is the latest push back against Microsoft and its Windows 8 operating system, an attempt at dramatic transformation of the traditional Windows desktop to incorporate touch screens and portable tablet shapes.


Consumers responded poorly, with widespread complaints about an interface that, while wonderful on tablets, essentially ignored the hundreds of millions of computer users worldwide that rely on mice and keyboards to interact with their systems. Desktop and laptop PC sales fell dramatically in 2013, according to data from research firm IDC. And sales of tablets running Windows 8, while growing, have in no way replaced them.


'The Windows-based tablet market ... is expected to grow to 39.3 million units in 2017 from less than 7.5 million in 2013 and less than 1 million in 2011. However, relative to a PC market size of roughly 300 million units, these Windows tablets would add just a couple percent a year relative to PC growth,' said Loren Loverde, a vice president with IDC.


Microsoft plans yet another update to Windows 8 to address user concerns, likely called Windows 8.2. In the meantime the company has launched a campaign to disparage systems running Google's OS, especially Chromebooks, which are yet another alternative to the traditional Windows PC.


A new TV ads in Microsoft's 'Scroogled' campaign suggest that a Chromebook is 'not a real laptop.' That hasn't stopped the low-cost systems from taking off, especially in education markets.


Moorhead suggests that 'PC Plus' devices mean manufacturers won't wait for Windows 8.2 or other efforts to 'fix' the operating system, instead experimenting with ways to desert Microsoft for alternatives.


'[PC Plus] could get millions of consumers more comfortable with Android on PCs,' said Moorhead. 'Just imagine for a second what happens when Android gets an improved large-screen experience.'


'This should scare the heck out of Microsoft,' he added.


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Golden times for investors in Spain - Olive Press



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Thursday 26 December 2013

Think Again Before Giving Your Child a Tablet Computer, Experts Concerned


Manufacturing companies have made tablet computers so easy that even a toddler is able to handle it easily. This may seem encouraging for some parents to feel that their kid has exceptional talents but some health experts are extremely worried about the trend.


One does not have to know how to read or write while operating a tablet since it is majorly operated through touch sensors. That is why children are capable of streaming movies or browsing through the photos or playing games even before they learn how to read and write.


A lot of parents use these gadgets to pacify their children so that they do not get disturbed by their tantrums. Children have quality time with these gadgets as they are often given such gadgets while their parents are driving, eating or busy shopping in a mall. The parents do not even feel guilty as they have an apparent conviction that the children are learning 'some' things in the process.


According to some experts, there is no evidence of the assumption that any sort of screen time (Tablet or TV) results in any educational benefit to children. On the contrary, while using these gadgets, they often stay away from other activities that promote development in their brain cells, Business Today reports. Excessive screen time may even turn out to cause behaviour problems among children. Older children may suffer from delayed social development as well.


Seattle Children's Hospital's paediatrician Dr Dimitri Christakis, however, clarifies that researches related to tablets are still in its preliminary stages as such gadgets are relatively new in the market. Dr Christakis admits that interactive games on tablets may have educational value for children but marks that most children spend time in watching videos on them. In that case, tablets are no different from TVs, only more handy to carry around.


To contact the editor, e-mail:


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Most Read Columns of 2013: The PC is the Titanic and the Tablet is the Iceberg

During this holiday week, we wanted to re-showcase some of the most read columns of 2013. Whether you read them before or are seeing them for the first time, enjoy some of the most read columns of our site from the past year.

Most tech pundits are confused about the Tablet computer. They compare the abilities of the PC (traditional notebook and desktop computers) to those of the Tablet and find the Tablet wanting. They can't understand how the Tablet can be so dog gone popular when it makes for such a terrible PC.


What they don't understand is that the tablet isn't trying to be a PC (unless it's the Microsoft Surface). Tablet sales are exploding because the Tablet is competing against...nothing. The Tablet is going where the PC is weak and where the PC is absent. There's virtually nothing standing in the tablet's way.


Comparing the PC to the tablet is like comparing the Titanic to the iceberg that sank it. It wasn't the one-ninth of the iceberg protruding above the waterline that sank the Titanic. It was the eight-ninths of the iceberg that lurked beneath the surface of the waters. Similarly, it isn't the few overlapping tasks that the PC and the Tablet can both do well that matters most. It is the tasks that the Tablet excels at - and which the PC does poorly or not at all - that will ultimately reduce the PC to niche status and turn the Tablet into the preeminent computing device of our time.


ABOVE THE WATERLINE The PC and the Tablet - like the Titanic and the tip of that fateful iceberg - do compete on rare occasions. Companies like SAP and IBM have ordered tens of thousands of Tablets and some of those Tablets have replaced traditional PCs, especially in those instance where the PC was overkill for the task it was originally assigned to do.


But let's be real. The PC is a better PC than the tablet is, or ever will be. The number of Tablets that will directly replace PCs will never amount to great numbers. Accordingly, we should no more fear the Tablet replacing the PC than the lookouts on the Titantic should have feared the the damage that could have been caused by protruding tip of the Iceberg. They knew, and we should know, that that's not where the real danger lies.


AT THE WATERLINE There are millions upon millions of Tablets that are supplementing, rather than replacing, the PC. These Tablets are being used by Lawyers and Financiers, by CEOs and Presenters, by Presidents and Prime Ministers, by Queens and by Parliaments. The Tablet frees the owner from the constraints of their PCs. They can use the PC when they are at their desks and use the tablet to take their data with them wherever they may go.


These tablets will not sink the PC because they complement the PC. However, they may well extend the life of the PC, thus slowing the PC's upgrade - and sales - cycles.


BELOW THE WATERLINE The bulk of the iceberg that destroyed the Titanic lay beneath the surface of the waters, beneath the vision of the lookouts, beneath the ship's waterline. Similarly, the bulk of the tasks that the Tablet excels at, lies beneath the PC's level of awareness, beneath the PC's contemptuous gaze, beneath the PC's areas of expertise and far, far below it's area of competence. The PC will not lose in a fair fight, anymore than the Titanic lost in a fair fight. Instead, the Tablet will hit the PC where the PC is weakest - below it's metaphorical 'waterline'.


Tablets excel at working while you are standing. Tasks done by matre d's, inventory takers, tour guides, concierges, face-to-face service providers and order takers of every kind, benefit from the use of the tablet.


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet as a stand-while-you-work device? No, it cannot.


ROOM TO ROOM, DOOR TO DOOR AND REMOTE LOCATIONS:

Tablets excel at working when one has to move and stop and move yet again. Car Dealerships, like Mercedes Benz, are giving tablets to their salespeople. European doctors are rapidly taking to the tablet. Service Technicians at Siemens Energy are using tablets while servicing power installations. Scientists are using tablets during field research. Nurses, Realtors, Journalists, Park Rangers, Medical Technicians...the list of users and uses is nearly endless.


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet as a work-and-move, and work-and-move-aagin, device? No, it cannot.


If you're in Sales, you're into Tablets. Whether you're traveling or standing or presenting or taking an order and acquiring a signature - Tablets are a salesperson's best friend.


Salesforce purchased 1,300 tablets and Boston Scientific purchased 4,500 tablet for their respective sales forces. And just this week, NBA Star, Deron Williams, signed a $98 million dollar contract ...on a tablet.


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet as a sales computing assistant? No, it cannot.


While the PC makes for a terrible Kiosk, the tablet is almost ideally suited to the task. Tablets as Kiosks are making their presence known in places as diverse as malls, taxi cabs, hospitals, the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles, and the FastPass lanes at Disney World.


In the coming years there will be millions of Kiosks converted to Tablets and millions more in new Kiosks created from Tablets.


Can the PC adequately compete with the Tablet as a Kiosk? No, it cannot.


Today there are millions upon millions of antiquated PCs being used as some form of cash register or point of sale device. Let me put this as diplomatically as I can - they suck.


They're going to be replaced by Tablets, almost overnight. And tens of millions of new Tablets are going to be used as cash registers and point of sale devices in all sorts of new and unexpected places.


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet as a Cash Register? No it cannot.


I've been hearing about the 'paperless office' since the 1970's. Yet every year, the PC generates ever more, not less, paper. But that was yesterday. Today the Tablet may finally be able to fulfill the promise that the PC so carelessly made - and broke - those many years ago.


Airlines such as United and Alaska are replacing their in-flight maps with Tablets. The United States Air Force is replacing their manuals with Tablets.


Construction companies are replacing their on-site blueprints with Tablets.


Governmental bodies of every shape and size are reducing paperwork through the use of Tablets. City councils and municipalities have jumped on the bandwagon. The Polish Parliament and the Dutch Senate have substituted Tablets for paper printouts of the documents read by their members. The British Parliament just replaced 650 of their computers with Tablets. And the President of the United States and the Queen and Prime Minister of England have all used Tablets in their briefings.


Twelve NFL teams, including the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens have replaced their paper playbooks with tablets. In Major League Baseball, the Cincinatti Reds have done the same. And at Ohio State, all the athletic programs are replacing their playbooks with tablets. Can there be any doubt that this trend will extend ever outward and ever downward to every professional team, every college team, every high school team and even, eventually, perhaps to amateur sports teams?


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet as a paper replacement? No it cannot.


Tablets are starting to show up as 'loaners' that are lent out as entertainment devices. They're being purchased by libraries. Airplanes run by Singapore Airlines and Qantas use them as in-flight entertainment devices. Airports like New York's LaGuardia, Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Toronto Pearson International, lend them out to waiting passengers. The Tablet is ideally suited for the task. It is light, it is portable, it is versatile, it displays content beautifully and it is sublimely easy to use.


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet as a Loaner? No, it cannot.


PCs in schools are mostly relegated to teachers and computer labs. Tablets live in the classroom and they reside in the hands of the students. No one wants to learn HOW to use computers anymore. Students simply want to use computers to help them learn.


The Tablet is starting to take educational institutions by storm. It acts as an electronic blackboard, as a digital textbook and as an interactive textbook.


It's at the K-12 level (the San Diego School district just ordered 26,000) and at the Universities (Adams Center for Teaching and Learning at Abilene Christian University, George Fox University, North Carolina State University in Raleigh). Tablets are even finding their way into the top-tier high schools in China.


Some schools have even reported a 10% improvement in the exam scores of students who use Tablets in lieu or paper books.


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet in education? No, it cannot.


The tablet excels at creating new computer users. This might seem a bit controversial, but it shouldn't be. Just think of anyone who says that they hate computers - they're a candidate for a Tablet. Just think of anyone who is too young or too old or too infirm or too disabled to use a PC - someone like a 3 year old or a 93 year old or a recovering cancer patient or an autistic child or someone with learning disabilities. They're all perfect candidates for the Tablet. The tablet will create a whole new class of computer users - people who have never used a computer before.


Can the PC adequately compete with the tablet as no-fuss, no-muss computing device? No it cannot.


What makes the Tablet so very exciting is that we haven't even begun to touch on it's full potential yet. With desktops, we were desk bound. With notebooks, we were surface bound. The Tablet allows us to do new tasks in new places and in new ways.


And it's virtually impossible to say what these tasks will be. We're limited by our experience and the scope of our imaginations. Tablets are going to be used in ways that we haven't even begun to think of yet.


SUMMING UP

Can the PC compete with the Tablet while standing, while moving, in sales, as Kiosks, as Point of Sale devices, as paper replacers, as loaners, in education, with wholly new users in wholly new uses? No, it cannot.


It is in these areas - the areas that are below the PC's level of competence, below the PC's level of contempt - that the Tablet will establish its empire. And there is simply nothing that the PC can do to stop it.


Like Captain Edward Smith of the Titanic, the Captains of Dell, HP, Google, Microsoft and many other computing companies, have failed to adequately grasp the true significance of the danger they are facing. They looked at the Tablet and thought: 'What the hey, I can avoid that dinky little tablet floating there on top of the waters. It's no bigger than an ice cube! It's no threat to me and my business at all!' But what they forgot, is that most of the tablet's strength lies hidden beneath the optimal level of the PC, i.e., beneath the PC's 'water line'. THAT is where the real danger to the PC lies.


LESSONS LEARNED AND LESSONS YET TO BE LEARNED

So, what should all of this be telling us?


Is the PC really the Titanic?

Sure, why not. The PC may sink beneath the waves like the Titanic did...but it will leave hundreds of very large 'life boats' in it wake. Anywhere that the PC is weak and the Tablet is strong, the PC will cease to exist. And that's a LOT of places. But the PC will continue to exist - just in a much diminished state.


It is not so much that the PC market will grow smaller (which it will) that matters. It's much more a matter of the Tablet market growing larger. Much, much larger. Soon the ships that are the PC will be floating atop a sea of Tablets. And what was once a 'Titanic' PC industry, will merely be just one component of a much larger, and much more diversified, personal computing industry.


Is the Tablet Really an Iceberg?

Sure, let's go with that. The important thing to note is that the portion of the Tablet market that everyone is focused on - the portion directly challenging the PC - that portion is, by far, the smallest and the least dangerous portion of the Tablet market.


Tablets will not so much reduce the number of PCs we use as they will simply outgrow the total number of PCs in use. Tablets are additive. They will replace a few PCs but mostly they will replace millions upon millions of tasks that never before were done with the assistance of computers. While everyone is bemoaning the fact that PC sales are flat or diminishing, the reality is that the actual sales of personal computers are currently exploding. True, the PC market is shrinking. But mostly, the Tablet market is growing, and it is growing so fast that it will soon overtake the PC market.


Like the iceberg, it is the rest of the Tablet market - the part that has not yet been fully discovered - that will overwhelm the PC. There will be far more Tablets than PCs simply because there are far more tasks that the Tablet can do, and do well, than tasks that the PC can do, and do well.


This is a novel concept for most. We tend to think of computing only in terms of the tasks that the PC is capable of doing today. We define those tasks that computers are currently doing as the only tasks that could possibly require a computer.


But the number of tasks being done WITHOUT the assistance of a computer dwarfs those that are currently being done WITH the assistance of a computer. And while the PC has pretty much maxed out the number of tasks that it can do, the limits to the number of tasks that the Tablet can do are undefined - and nearly endless.


John Kirk

John R. Kirk is a recovering attorney. He has also worked as a financial advisor and a business coach. His love affair with computing started with his purchase of the original Mac in 1985. His primary interest is the field of personal computing (which includes phones, tablets, notebooks and desktops) and his primary focus is on long-term business strategies: What makes a company unique; How do those unique qualities aid or inhibit the success of the company; and why don't (or can't) other companies adopt the successful attributes of their competitors?


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Why that tablet PC might not be a good gift for your 3

New York: Tablet computers are so easy to use that even a 3-year-old can master them.


And that has some paediatricians and other health experts worried.


Since navigating a tablet generally doesn't require the ability to type or read, children as young as toddlers can quickly learn how to stream movies, scroll through family photos or play simple games.



That ease-of-use makes tablets -and smartphones- popular with busy parents who use them to pacify their kids during car rides, restaurant outings or while they're at home trying to get dinner on the table. And many feel a little less guilty about it if they think there's educational value to the apps and games their children use.


The devices are expected to rank among the top holiday gifts for children this year. Gadget makers such as Samsung have introduced tablets specifically designed for kids and many manufacturers of adult tablets now include parental controls. Those products are in addition to the slew of kiddie tablets produced by electronic toy makers such as LeapFrog, Vtech and Toys R Us.


But some experts note there's no evidence that screen time - whether from a TV or tablet - provides any educational or developmental benefits for babies and toddlers. Yet it takes away from activities that do promote brain development, such as non-electronic toys and adult interaction.


They also say that too much screen time has been linked to behaviour problems and delayed social development in older children.


Dr Dimitri Christakis, a paediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital, points out that iPads have only been on the market for a little over three years, which means tablet-related research is still in its infancy.


Christakis says educational games and apps have some value if they engage a child and prompt them to interact with the device, but cautioned that if all children do is watch videos on their tablets, then it's just like watching TV, which has a limited ability to engage a child.


He also notes that parents need be mindful of whether tablet time is replacing more important activities such as sleeping, reading or interacting with adults. He says that while the American Academy of Paediatrics recommends no more than one to two hours of screen time a day for kids over the age of two, he thinks one hour is plenty.


'The single most important thing for children is time with parents and caregivers,' he says. 'Nothing is more important in terms of social development. If time with the tablet comes at the expense of that, that's not good.'


Dr. Rahil Briggs, a paediatric psychologist at New York's Montefiore Medical Center, says tablet usage needs to be limited for the youngest of children, because too much screen time can slow language development. And since there's very little research out there so far, experts still don't know exactly how much is too much, she says.


For older children, Briggs says too much tablet use can slow social development. She notes that the solitary nature of the activity means that kids aren't using that time to learn how to make friends or pick up on social cues.


Some experts, however, believe tablets and smartphones possess unique educational benefits.


Jill Buban, dean of the School of Education at Post University in Waterbury Conn., says the more children absorb and understand technology before they start school, the more comfortable they'll feel when they enter a classroom for the first time.


But she says even the best educational apps must be monitored by parents and limited. She recommends no more than 30 minutes of tablet usage at a time in light of the short attention spans of most young kids.


'There's so much media out there and so much marketing,' she says. 'It's all about smart choices and research, whether it's an app on a tablet or a TV show.'


Susan Linn, director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, says parents should be wary of any TV show or app that touts educational benefits for babies or toddlers, saying that scientists have yet to prove that there are any.


'Babies and young children are spending huge amounts of time with screen media when really what they need is hands-on creative play, active time and face-to face time with the people that love them,' Linn said.


Linn's group, known for its allegations against 'Baby Einstein' videos that eventually led to consumer refunds, is urging the Federal Trade Commission to examine the marketing practices of certain apps and games geared toward babies.


'The best toys are the ones that just lie there until the child transforms them,' Linn said pointing to blocks and stuffed animals as examples. 'If all children do is push a button, that's not the kind of play that promotes learning.'


Since its debut over 40 years ago, Sesame Street has dealt with questions about the amount of screen time small children should have.


Scott Chambers, Sesame Workshop's senior vice president for digital content, says the brand, which now includes 45 apps and 160 e-books, has gotten a huge boost from touch screen devices, which are much easier for preschoolers to handle than computer mice. That content can provide children with a much more customized and interactive educational experience than the show could hope to deliver, he says.


'It's a balancing act, but all we can do is try to provide a good enriching media experience wherever parents and preschoolers may be,' Chambers says.


Chambers notes that some of Sesame's apps encourage kids to put down their devices, pointing to Sesame's new 'Family Play' app. Instead of having a child interact directly with a phone or tablet, it gives parents ideas for ways to play together.


Adam Cohen, a stay-at-home father of two from New York, says apps have been a key part of his 5-year-old son Marc's education since he was just a baby.


'He had an iPad at close to 18 months so he was definitely one of those babies swiping away in his stroller,' Cohen says. 'Now it's different, but back then we were a little ostracised. Now he's reading at close to a second-grade reading level and I credit a lot of that to iPad apps.'


Marc now has his own iPad loaded with mostly educational content and his baby sister Harper, who isn't yet one-year-old, seems frustrated that she doesn't have one too, Cohen says.


Still, not every parent is keen on tablets and apps.


Lance Somerfeld, another stay-at-home dad from New York, says he thinks he and his wife are stricter than most parents. They don't own a tablet and didn't allow their 5-year-old son Jake to watch TV until he was nearly three. But Somerfeld says he does have an iPhone and lets Jake occasionally play with some of the apps.


'If I have an hour and a choice, I'd really rather spend it reading books with him,' Somerfeld says. 'But he's really engaged by the apps, so you could make the case that there needs to be a balance.'


www.best-budget-tablet.com For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

Is the iPad on the way out? Apple tablet was outsold by Android rivals for the ...

Sales of tablet computers trebled this year, according to analysts But only 38% of devices were iPads, compared to 56% share for Android Budget tablets launched by Tesco and Aldi are stealing market share

PUBLISHED: 11:29 EST, 26 December 2013 | UPDATED: 11:29 EST, 26 December 2013


Tablet computers hit unprecedented heights of popularity as Christmas gifts this year - but Apple's iPad is no longer the top dog, according to analysts.


Sales of tablets soared nearly threefold this year, with a total of 7.6million units shipped to Britain in the first three quarters of 2013, and a similar number expected to be sold in the Christmas period.


But customers may be turning away from the iPad, as a host of much cheaper competitors launched on the market this year.


Tablets first hit the mainstream in 2010 when the launch of the iPad heralded a lightweight alternative to laptop and desktop computers.


Their sales have continued to rise sharply year on year ever since, with data from analysts IDC showing a 192 per cent rise in the number of units shipped from January to September this year.


The iPad was the single most popular device, taking 38 per cent of the market - but for the first time, tablets powered by Google's Android operating system outsold those running Apple's iOS.


56 per cent of tablets sold in Britain run on Android, including popular models such as the Nexus, Kindle Fire and Samsung Galaxy.


The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire are both available for less than £200, compared to a minimum of £320 for the iPad Mini and £400 for the iPad Air.


400MILLION MOBILE APPS WERE DOWNLOADED ON CHRISTMAS DAY

However, the tablet market has been rocked in recent weeks with the release of even cheaper models by British retailers not normally thought of as tech giants.


Tesco is selling the Hudl for just £119, in a bid to attract customers who might normally shun tablets as a pricey luxury.


Budget supermarket Aldi went even further with the Lifetab, which sold out within hours of going on sale for £80.


The rise of ultra-cheap tablets has made parents more likely to give the computers as gifts to their children, according to IDC's Francisco Jeronimo.


'Parents looking to give gifts to children and teenagers are unlikely to spend £400-500 on a tablet, so tablets sub-£100 are less of an investment and more of an attractive disposable gift that doesn't matter so much if it gets broken,' he told the Guardian.


And as the technology which powers tablets continues to get cheaper, budget devices are set to become even more common, the analyst said.


The rise of cheaper competitors forced Apple to introduce the iPad Mini last year, and the firm could feel compelled to introduce even more downmarket alternatives to maintain its dominant position.



www.best-budget-tablet.com For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

Apple iPad Air, Nexus 10 Among Top 5 Tablets 2013 For The Enterprise

It is well-known that tablets are gaining immense popularity these days. And why not? They're extremely convenient for computing. It's estimated that by 2017 tablet shipments will peak to 386 million annually and Android powered tablets will control more than 50% of total tablet market. It's no wonder that tablets are steadily surpassing PCs in terms of sales and large-screen tablets are slowing eating up in laptop market. According to latest rumour, Apple is considering to replace 11-inch MacBook Air with 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which could be launched by October next year.


Tablets And The Enterprise

In days gone by, PCs were considered the only practical choice for the enterprise. The corporate world has made extensive use of personal computers, but rarely ever considered the prospect of supplementing the use of PCs with something that could be more convenient, especially in terms of mobility.


Ever since Apple came out with the iPad in the year 2010, tablets have been steadily gaining popularity across sectors. Even in the corporate sector, tablets are now being used more than ever before, and for a variety of purposes.


It has been observed that the enterprise is warming up to the idea of using tablets for work. This accounts for the steady increase in tablet deployments in the enterprise in the past year. Good Technology has discovered that about 27 percent of the total mobile activations in the enterprise are from tablets, and this figure is steadily rising as well.


Having said that, there's one thing you should know. Only a few tablets can be beneficial to the enterprise. This is why it is important for you to have a close look at what each tablet has to offer, before buying one. Last week we showcased the list of Top 5 Android Tablets 2013 and today we are going to have an in-depth look at Top 5 Enterprise tablets 2013.


The Apple iPad Air

Apple is the obvious trendsetter when it comes to tablets. When Apple launched its first iPad in the year 2010, people never imagined that this device could be as beneficial for the enterprise as it is today. The iPad Air is one of the recent launches by Apple and comes loaded with the latest version of Apple's operating system, the iOS 7. The 9.7-inch display of the iPad Air makes it rather convenient for extensive hours of viewing.



Whether you need to browse online or read text, the iPad Air is an apt choice. The Air weighs just a single pound, which makes it convenient to carry around. The iPad Air functions on the new Apple A7 ARM. The 16 GB Wi-Fi variant of iPad Air tablet is priced tag with $499 (Rs. 35,900) while the 3G version with same storage is priced $629 (Rs. 44,900).


Apple iPad Mini With Retina Display

The 7.9-inch Apple iPad Mini with Retina Display is an impressive new launch by the fruit-logo company. The famed Retina Display is one of the major highlights of this device. Even though it is considerably smaller in size than the iPad Air, it offers excellent screen clarity. The iPad Mini comes with a pixel-density of 326 pixels-per-inch that makes it ideal for long hours of usage.



The weight of this device is just 0.73 pounds, which makes it lighter than the iPad Air. Running on the latest Apple A7 ARM, the iPad Mini is definitely in the list of tablets that are ideally suited for the enterprise.


The iPad Mini tablet with Retina display price starts with $399 for the Wi-Fi only version.


Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 - 2014 Edition

As the name suggests, this tablet comes with an impressive 10.1-inch display and excellent multitasking benefits. The new Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014) tablet has a stylus, which makes it very easy for corporate users to quickly write something down. This is one of the many features that make the Note 10.1 stand out from the other tablets in the market.



What is also beneficial for the enterprise is the fact that you can do a lot more with the stylus than the device offers. You can add notes to a screenshot of what you see, and you can also access tools rather easily with it.


The fact that you can write on the screen and then have the handwriting converted into a contact entry is also commendable. On the flip side, the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet price burns quite a deep hole in anyone's pocket.


Google Nexus 10

The 10-inch display of the Google Nexus 10 makes for convenient viewing and so does its rubberized back that is rather snug as you hold it. It runs on the latest Android 4.2, which makes it an ideal choice for anyone who doesn't want to go in for a much costlier device, such as an iPad.



The Nexus 10 has been made available from Google, making it beneficial for those who are already using many Google services. Google's Cloud Services are steadily gaining popularity among the masses, making the Nexus 10 an ideal choice for those who want to avail of these services.


Cloud-based programs are the biggest selling point for the Nexus 10, making it a good choice for the enterprise. The company has price tagged the device with $399.


Asus Transformer Pad Infinity

This tablet by Asus might not be grabbing as many eyeballs as the latest of Samsung's and Apple's tablets, but it's definitely a good option for the enterprise. One of the biggest benefits of the Transformer Pad is the fact that it can be connected to a physical keyboard. This makes it highly beneficial for corporate users who need to type a good deal of text.



The Asus Transformer Pad comes with a powerful quad-core processor and has a sturdy metal rear. Its 2560×1600 pixel IGZO IPS screen is really sharp, making it apt for long hours of viewing.


Tablets Are Here To Stay, In The Enterprise

Going by the increasing demand for mobile computing devices in the corporate world, it seems like tablets are here to stay. They give corporate users the chance to research and store information on the go. The iPad is by far the most popular choice for the enterprise.


However, given the rise of various other tech companies such as Samsung and Asus, it seems that the enterprise will have many more options to choose from, in the near future.


www.best-budget-tablet.com For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Litchfield Board Accepts Bid for Personal Tablet Computers


NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 02: A view of the DellVenue after the Dell Press Conference To Introduce The Venue Tablet Line And New XPS Laptops on October 2, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for DELL)


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LITCHFIELD-Litchfield High School students will be getting personal tablet computers as part of the district's one-to-one personal device program this January. The Board of Education agreed at the Dec. 18 meeting to approve a bid for 336 Dell tablets with detachable keyboards for students and an additional 28 tablets and keyboards for teachers.


The Finance, Faculties and Technology subcommittee looked at nine different computer options from companies such as Apple, HP and Lenovo. Some were for laptops, others for the sleeker and more expensive tablets. Ultimately, the board decided on a bid for Dell Venue 11 Pro tablets at the cost of $310,712 plus $15,000 for an accidental damage warranty.


Parents would have to pay a one-time fee of $43 for four years of accidental damage coverage, which the Board of Education plans to purchase on behalf of the student. This fee will be waived for seniors the first year, a cost that the BOE will absorb. These personal tablets will be used in class and brought home to be used on homework assignments. Students who do not pay the $43 would be able to use the laptops during school hours but not be able to bring them home.


The tablets have 10.8 inch screens, a stylus and 4G of memory at a cost of $732 each. They will operate on Windows 8. Dell's website listed the market value of these tablets at $1,060.84. The student keyboards will cost the district roughly $113 each. Dell lists the market value at $159.


Teachers, along with the tablets and keyboards will also receive docks to charge their devices. The docks will also connect to the smartboards at LHS.


Seventh and eighth graders at the high school have had personal devices for the past year and half. In the same vein, parents had to pay a $40 non-refundable insurance fee for those devices with the same caveat that those children that don't pay cannot bring their devices home.


The Board of Finance agreed to bond $420,000 for the next for years for these personal devices and 15 copiers.


LITCHFIELD-Litchfield High School students will be getting personal tablet computers as part of the district's one-to-one personal device program this January. The Board of Education agreed at the Dec. 18 meeting to approve a bid for 336 Dell tablets with detachable keyboards for students and an additional 28 tablets and keyboards for teachers.


The Finance, Faculties and Technology subcommittee looked at nine different computer options from companies such as Apple, HP and Lenovo. Some were for laptops, others for the sleeker and more expensive tablets. Ultimately, the board decided on a bid for Dell Venue 11 Pro tablets at the cost of $310,712 plus $15,000 for an accidental damage warranty.


Parents would have to pay a one-time fee of $43 for four years of accidental damage coverage, which the Board of Education plans to purchase on behalf of the student. This fee will be waived for seniors the first year, a cost that the BOE will absorb. These personal tablets will be used in class and brought home to be used on homework assignments. Students who do not pay the $43 would be able to use the laptops during school hours but not be able to bring them home.


The tablets have 10.8 inch screens, a stylus and 4G of memory at a cost of $732 each. They will operate on Windows 8. Dell's website listed the market value of these tablets at $1,060.84. The student keyboards will cost the district roughly $113 each. Dell lists the market value at $159.


Teachers, along with the tablets and keyboards will also receive docks to charge their devices. The docks will also connect to the smartboards at LHS.


Seventh and eighth graders at the high school have had personal devices for the past year and half. In the same vein, parents had to pay a $40 non-refundable insurance fee for those devices with the same caveat that those children that don't pay cannot bring their devices home.


The Board of Finance agreed to bond $420,000 for the next for years for these personal devices and 15 copiers.


www.best-budget-tablet.com For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

Tablets for tots? Some experts worry about screentime

iPads and other tablets are expected to rank among the top gifts for children this year. Many parents argue they're educational. But some experts worry all the screentime is taking away from other important developmental activities.


Bebeto Matthews/AP

Marc Cohen, 5, uses a Sesame Street app on his tablet at home in New York. Tablets of all types are expected to rank among the top holiday gifts for children this year, but some experts and advocates question the educational or developmental benefits for youngsters.


Tablet computers are so easy to use that even a 3-year-old can master them.


And that has some pediatricians and other health experts worried.


Since navigating a tablet generally doesn't require the ability to type or read, children as young as toddlers can quickly learn how to stream movies, scroll through family photos or play simple games.


That ease-of-use makes tablets -and smartphones- popular with busy parents who use them to pacify their kids during car rides, restaurant outings or while they're at home trying to get dinner on the table. And many feel a little less guilty about it if they think there's educational value to the apps and games their children use.


The devices are expected to rank among the top holiday gifts for children this year. Gadget makers such as Samsung have introduced tablets specifically designed for kids and many manufacturers of adult tablets now include parental controls. Those products are in addition to the slew of kiddie tablets produced by electronic toy makers such as LeapFrog, Vtech and Toys R Us.


But some experts note there's no evidence that screen time - whether from a TV or tablet - provides any educational or developmental benefits for babies and toddlers. Yet it takes away from activities that do promote brain development, such as non-electronic toys and adult interaction.


RELATED: BRITISH MAN'S KIDS RACK UP $1,600 IPAD GAME BILL

They also say that too much screen time has been linked to behavior problems and delayed social development in older children.


Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital, points out that iPads have only been on the market for a little over three years, which means tablet-related research is still in its infancy.


Christakis says educational games and apps have some value if they engage a child and prompt them to interact with the device, but cautioned that if all children do is watch videos on their tablets, then it's just like watching TV, which has a limited ability to engage a child.


He also notes that parents need be mindful of whether tablet time is replacing more important activities such as sleeping, reading or interacting with adults. He says that while the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one to two hours of screen time a day for kids over the age of two, he thinks one hour is plenty.


'The single most important thing for children is time with parents and caregivers,' he says. 'Nothing is more important in terms of social development. If time with the tablet comes at the expense of that, that's not good.'


Dr. Rahil Briggs, a pediatric psychologist at New York's Montefiore Medical Center, says tablet usage needs to be limited for the youngest of children, because too much screen time can slow language development. And since there's very little research out there so far, experts still don't know exactly how much is too much, she says.


RELATED: KIDS HOOKED ON IPADS: IS IT TECH ADDICTION OR POOR PARENTING?

For older children, Briggs says too much tablet use can slow social development. She notes that the solitary nature of the activity means that kids aren't using that time to learn how to make friends or pick up on social cues.


Some experts, however, believe tablets and smartphones possess unique educational benefits.


Jill Buban, dean of the School of Education at Post University in Waterbury Conn., says the more children absorb and understand technology before they start school, the more comfortable they'll feel when they enter a classroom for the first time.


But she says even the best educational apps must be monitored by parents and limited. She recommends no more than 30 minutes of tablet usage at a time in light of the short attention spans of most young kids.


Bebeto Matthews/AP

'There's so much media out there and so much marketing,' she says. 'It's all about smart choices and research, whether it's an app on a tablet or a TV show.'


Susan Linn, director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, says parents should be wary of any TV show or app that touts educational benefits for babies or toddlers, saying that scientists have yet to prove that there are any.


RELATED: AN IPAD TOILET FOR KIDS

'Babies and young children are spending huge amounts of time with screen media when really what they need is hands-on creative play, active time and face-to face time with the people that love them,' Linn said.


Linn's group, known for its allegations against 'Baby Einstein' videos that eventually led to consumer refunds, is urging Congress to examine the marketing practices of certain apps and games geared toward babies.


'The best toys are the ones that just lie there until the child transforms them,' Linn said pointing to blocks and stuffed animals as examples. 'If all children do is push a button, that's not the kind of play that promotes learning.'


Since its debut over 40 years ago, Sesame Street has dealt with questions about the amount of screen time small children should have.


Scott Chambers, Sesame Workshop's senior vice president for digital content, says the brand, which now includes 45 apps and 160 e-books, has gotten a huge boost from touch screen devices, which are much easier for preschoolers to handle than computer mice. That content can provide children with a much more customized and interactive educational experience than the show could hope to deliver, he says.


'It's a balancing act, but all we can do is try to provide a good enriching media experience wherever parents and preschoolers may be,' Chambers says.


RELATED: ARE IPADS AND OTHER TABLETS BAD FOR CHILDREN?

Chambers notes that some of Sesame's apps encourage kids to put down their devices, pointing to Sesame's new 'Family Play' app. Instead of having a child interact directly with a phone or tablet, it gives parents ideas for ways to play together.


Adam Cohen, a stay-at-home father of two from New York, says apps have been a key part of his 5-year-old son Marc's education since he was just a baby.


'He had an iPad at close to 18 months so he was definitely one of those babies swiping away in his stroller,' Cohen says. 'Now it's different, but back then we were a little ostracized. Now he's reading at close to a second-grade reading level and I credit a lot of that to iPad apps.'


Marc now has his own iPad loaded with mostly educational content and his baby sister Harper, who isn't yet one-year-old, seems frustrated that she doesn't have one too, Cohen says.


Still, not every parent is keen on tablets and apps.


Lance Somerfeld, another stay-at-home dad from New York, says he thinks he and his wife are stricter than most parents. They don't own a tablet and didn't allow their 5-year-old son Jake to watch TV until he was nearly three. But Somerfeld says he does have an iPhone and lets Jake occasionally play with some of the apps.


'If I have an hour and a choice, I'd really rather spend it reading books with him,' Somerfeld says. 'But he's really engaged by the apps, so you could make the case that there needs to be a balance.'


On a mobile device? Click here to watch the video.


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'Flip teaching' via tablet computers to be launched in Japanese city's ...

'Flip teaching' via tablet computers to be launched in Japanese city's elementary schools

The Board of Education in the Japanese city of Saga will adopt a new learning style called ' flip teaching' to public elementary and junior high schools, where tablet computers will be provided for students to prepare for their classes, as well as bring their classrooms straight into their homes through videos saved on the mobile devices.


An experimental class was held at the Takeuchi Elementary School on November 21 and Mayor Keisuke Hiwatashi remarked that, 'the role of public education is to make sure that no child is left behind.' He also noted after observing the class, 'I could see that the flip teaching method helps children teach and learn from each other.' With flip teaching, more time for 'advanced studying' will be spent interacting with fellow students, rather than just teachers spending a lot of time on lectures, as this will address the lack of skills in applying practical knowledge by Japanese students which recent international and national achievement tests have shown.


Flip teaching will address the issue of limited school hours so that more time for class discussions will be available. Also, students will have already been prepared to take on more advanced solutions in school, since flip teaching will address basic information prior to going to class. Associate professor from Tohoku Gakuin University said that flip teaching allows students to learn at their own pace. Flip teaching will be initially launched for one-fifth of science and math classes in elementary schools first, and Mayor Hiwatashi hopes that more cities will soon adopt the same learning style soon.


[ via Mainichi]


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Thieves steal 70 tablet computers from Chimp Electronics, Belgrave


Seventy tablet computers have been stolen from a company.


The distinctive tablets were stolen from Chimp Electronics, in Catherine Street, Belgrave, Leicester, between 4am and 4.14am on December 17.


Detective Constable Charlotte Mee said: 'The tablet computers are unique and only made by Chimp Electronics.


'We are keen to speak to anyone who has been approached by someone selling similar electrical equipment.


'We would also like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity around the shop in the early hours of Tuesday.'


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Monday 16 December 2013

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Check Out How The Tablet Just Replaced The PC For People Buying Computers


The PC market has cratered, but our purchases of personal computers has remained quite steady, according to this chart from a Morgan Stanley report on the PC industry. As you can see, people have simply shifted purchases of laptops and desktops to purchases of tablets. The overall growth of the PC market is steady.


Business Insider


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How will Chile's President-elect Bachelet tackle immigration reform? - Alaska Dispatch



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How will Chile's President-elect Bachelet tackle immigration reform? - Christian Science Monitor



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eu parliament to consider eu citizenships - International Adviser



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Thursday 12 December 2013

Youth who helped steal tablet computers from Dublin bookshop to be sentenced ...


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The 17-year-old boy had pleaded guilty in October at the Dublin Children's Court A YOUTH, who helped steal 25 tablet computers during a series of brazen burglaries at Reads bookshop on Nassau Street in Dublin, is to be sentenced in January.

The 17-year-old boy had pleaded guilty in October at the Dublin Children's Court to burglary and attempted theft charges in connection with the offences which occurred on July 6, twice on July 7 and again on July 8 last.


Judge John O'Connor noted today that a positive probation report on the teenager had been furnished to the court. He told the teenager if he does not continue to engage with the Probation Service he faces a 'high risk of going into custody'.


The teenager, who was accompanied to his hearing by his father, was remanded on continuing bail to appear again for sentencing on January 23 next when an updated report will be furnished to the court.


Over the first two dates, the youth, who is from Romania, went into the shop's store room at around lunch-time and removed 25 tablet computers, with a total value of €5,475, and left the premises.


None of the stolen devices were recovered, Garda Cathal Feely has told Judge O'Connor


A day later, on July 8, the boy and a group of people returned and another 20 tablet computers, which were each worth €219, were taken from the store room and put on the shop floor however this time another theft was foiled when a member of staff noticed what was happening.


Gda Feely agreed with defence solicitor Michelle Finan that the boy, who has two prior convictions for theft offences, was co-operative and made admissions following his arrest.


Ms Finan told the court that the boy is out of school but his father wanted him to get back into education. The teen's father was not aware his son was involved in this activity and hoped his son could avoid a custodial sentence.


The teen has already been banned, for the duration of the case, from being in the entire Dublin city-centre area, except for court appearances and scheduled meetings with his solicitor.


Another youth, who has also admitted taking part in the thefts, is to appear at the juvenile court next week.



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Woman died after taking 'Dr Death' drug, inquest told

A YOUNG woman died after taking a drug commonly known as 'Dr Death' or 'super ecstasy', an inquest has heard.


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HP CEO discusses company's tablet strategy and its traditional PC and notebook ...


During the course of a Wednesday morning discussion on CNBC, Hewlett-Packard (HP)'s CEO Meg Whitman talked about the company's tablet strategy, along with its traditional PC and notebook product range.


Even in the wake of the dwindling PC sales worldwide, Whitman was apparently reluctant to call time on the conventional desktop computers. Nonetheless, she also pointed out that HP's devices for enterprise business comprise a 'tremendously strong lineup.'


Asserting that 'desktops are not dead,' Whitman said that HP has the capability to deliver a wide range of devices - including PCs, laptops, virtual desktops, workstations, hybrids, and tablet computers - for the commercial enterprise.


Despite the fact the global PC market is shirking, HP still holds the first or second place in the overall commercial PC space in all the regions in which the company operates. However, in order to ensure that the company's consumer roots are not neglected, Whitman said that HP aims at attacking the `middle ground.'


Towards that end, Whitman described a new all-in-one laptop and said: 'All tablet, all laptop. You can take the screen off. You can work with a regular keyboard. Or you can take the screen off and sit back and watch a movie on the airplane.'


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MobileDemand and Peak

December 11, 2013 --



Hiawatha, Iowa (PRWEB) December 11, 2013


MobileDemand, a worldwide provider of ruggedized tablet PCs, and Peak-Ryzex, one of the largest providers of supply chain and mobility solutions, have announced a partnership to enable Peak-Ryzex to integrate MobileDemand tablet PCs into their portfolio of supply chain and mobility solutions.


MobileDemand xTablet rugged tablet PC systems enable companies to extend enterprise and business applications to mobile workers to access critical information and make better business decisions at the point of interaction. MobileDemand's innovative rugged tablet PCs deliver performance at a lower cost and enable greater efficiency and productivity in the field.


Peak-Ryzex provides end-to-end enterprise mobility, managed services, printing and mobile data capture solutions for performance-driven organizations focused on the optimization of supply chain and field-based business processes.


Peak-Ryzex will be offering the MobileDemand xTablet T1200, xTablet T7200 and the xTablet C1300 to their enterprise prospects and customers across the globe. Not only are all of the tablets designed for daily handheld use, but the xTablet T1200 and xTablet T7200 have specialized docks available which enable you to mount on a forklift or in a vehicle, and then quickly release the tablet for mobile applications. This allows for greater productivity from your mobile workforce, as well as the ability to automate more aspects of your business.


MobileDemand xTablets are built to outlast demanding work environments such as that of AIDC and warehouse management applications, says President at MobileDemand, Matt Miller. Peak-Ryzex has proven time and time again that their mobile solutions and integration knowledge and experience is one that is top-notch and we are thrilled to be adding our xTablet line of rugged tablets to their portfolio of options.


Tablet computing interest in our customer base is at an all-time high and our partnership with MobileDemand allows us to provide an innovative rugged tablet PC platform that enables productivity gains and a strong total cost of ownership proposition, said Tim Wills, Vice President, Marketing and Support, Peak-Ryzex.


About MobileDemand


MobileDemand is the leading provider of Rugged Tablet PC systems used in transportation in the United States. MobileDemand is also a leading provider of rugged tablet computers used by mobile workers in Food and Beverage Distribution, Manufacturing, Warehousing, Hospitality, Field Service, Agriculture, Utilities, Military and Public Sector. xTablet rugged Tablet PC systems are ideal tools for improving operational efficiency and allowing mobile workers to make better business decisions at the point of interaction. They provide ultra-mobility and versatility and are built military rugged to withstand harsh environments. They offer a high resolution, all-light readable touch screen, functionality of a full Microsoft Windows 7 or 8 OS and the power of an Intel processor to deliver performance at a lower cost and enable greater efficiency and productivity in the field. MobileDemand: Innovations in Mobile Productivity. Additional information about MobileDemand is available at http://www.RuggedTabletPC.com.


About Peak-Ryzex


Peak-Ryzex provides end-to-end enterprise mobility, managed services, printing and mobile data capture solutions for performance-driven organizations focused on the optimization of supply chain and field-based business processes. Peak-Ryzexs in-depth industry-specific experience, state-of-the-art solutions and managed services, and exemplary customer support provide transformational business solutions and results that deliver greater ROI and outstanding value. Peak-Ryzex serves as a trusted business partner for some of the worlds largest companies, while also supporting local and regional customers with an extensive coverage footprint throughout North America and Europe.


For more information on Peak-Ryzex, visit http://www.peak-ryzex.com.


Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/ruggedized-tablet-pc/peak-ryzex-mobile-demand/prweb11405260.htm.


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CyanogenMod for Android smartphones and tablet computers

CyanogenMod is an improved open source firmware distribution for smart phones and tablet computers based on the Android mobile operating system. The CyanogenMod offers features and options not found in the official firmware distributed by vendors of these devices.


The CyanogenMod team has been working on a secure messaging component for a popular ROM and the company will be testing the output in the real world. The new encrypted whisper push messaging system is being rolled out to CyanogenMod 10.2. The new product is for better compatibility and server load testing. The company launched Wild CyanogenMod 11 first in the nexus devices followed by the release for other smart phones as well. The CyanogenMod had also released a new ScreenCast application which is available on the Play Store beta channel. The new application helps the user to capture the video recording of their screen and is only available for Android devices.



CyanogenMod has also made it really simple to activate the screen recording feature, performing similar actions for taking a Screenshot on Android devices. CyanogenMod is also working on a new technology that will implement SMS middleware available with Text Secure that will encrypt all the messages being sent to other Text Secure users. This will be very beneficial for the Android users as it will allow them to use any SMS application and still have the benefits.


CyanogenMod is a free and open source software based on the official releases of Android by Google with added original and third party code.


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Monday 9 December 2013

Kindle Fire HDX Green Monday 2013 Deals: Up to 45% Discounts on Tablet ...

Up to 45% Price Cuts on tablet computers including the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and a variety of other Android tablets published.


Chicago, IL (PRWEB) December 09, 2013


Similar to Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2013, many tablet deals have been announced for December 9th, Green Monday 2013. Tablets on sale include the Amazon Kindle Fire HD and Fire HDX, Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, Lenovo Ideatab, ASUS MeMO Pad and Vivotab, Acer Iconia, Lenovo, Tivax MiTraveler, HP 7' tablet with Intel Atom processor and kid's tablet computers such as the LeapFrog LeapPad2. Up to 45% price cuts have been announced on some of the above tablets.


All Current Holiday Deals on Tablet Computers can be accessed on http://TabletXRay.com/Holiday-Deals/.


Of the tablet computers on sale, the Green Monday Kindle Fire HDX deals deserve special mention. They went on sale on Cyber Monday as well, however, the deal on the budget Amazon Kindle Fire HD 16GB model sold out very early on with some consumers not being able to take advantage of it. Those consumers should feel relieved today because the same tablet is on sale today. However, the discount is not as steep as that seen on December 2nd Monday. However, given that it is still a substantial price cut, it's advisable that anybody looking to purchase this model this holiday season grab it today before the deal expires again.


In addition to the Kindle Fire HD 8.9' and 7 inch models, the Apple iPad has also been discounted today. However, this is not the latest 5th generation iPad Air and not recommended for the price on offer. In addition to the 2 most popular tablets, that is the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Apple iPad, the prices of Android tablets from Samsung, ASUS, HP, Acer, Tivax and Lenovo etc. have also been dropped. Again, their price cuts are not as big as they were last week. Given that the main sales events are already over, whether these will receive any bigger discounts is doubtful.


In addition to publishing Green Monday Kindle Fire HD and other tablet deals, they have also published several reviews on the Kindle Fire range of tablets and Apple iPads. Further, they have compared the above tablets with the Google Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. These are useful reading material for anybody considering buying or gifting a tablet computer this 2013 holiday shopping season.


For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/kindle-fire-ipad-deals/2013-holiday-tablet-sales/prweb11404132.htm


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How Tablets Have Redefined the Rules of Personal Computing

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Back in 1990, I was asked by Microsoft to look closely at a product in the works that turned out to be the company's first tablet. The focus on this device was a stylus-based device centered on what at the time was called pen computing. A competitive product from Go Corporation had begun to define the concept of pen computing and Microsoft did not want to be left behind.


The importance of this product to Microsoft was huge. Bill Gates himself blessed it because it embodied part of a major vision he had of 'a computer on every desk and and every home.' At the time, desktops were all the rage; laptops had started to enter the market but they were large and clunky and very expensive.


Gates and team loved the idea of pen computing because it gave them a key device that could be used to help fulfill a part of that vision. However, the technology was not available in those days to deliver a sleek tablet that had a color screen and that could accurately convert writing to text - two major parts of this product's design. It was also very expensive. By 1992, the tablet computer had only minor success and Go Corporation, the company that led this charge, was almost out of business.


Ten years later, Bill Gates took the stage at Comdex and introduced version two of his tablet vision. This time he called it the MS Tablet Computer. Gone was the emphasis on the pen; instead it had a virtual keyboard, and the pen was mainly used like a mouse for navigation. Yes, you could use the stylus to take notes, but it still didn't translate writing into text well, so it was de-emphasized as a feature. It, too, failed to garner any serious market attention, although it was a hit in vertical markets like the medical field, the transportation industry and other areas were these tablets made sense. In its best year on the market, it sold only about 1 million units. In this Comdex speech, however, Gates actually proclaimed that 'the tablet was the future of personal computing.'


Tablet computing is 23 years old this year and is now hitting its stride to become a mass market product. During most of this time, PCs and laptops ruled the world of personal computing. While the laptop clearly made the computing experience more portable, its form factor was still fairly rigid thanks to its clamshell design. This meant that while portable, it was not a great design for using on your lap or while sitting on a couch or in bed. Also, laptops were optimized for productivity. They were used for work and school. In the home, they were mostly used for things like paying bills, shopping and e-mail; many people also used them to watch movies, especially on long flights.


When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad in 2010, it was clearly not the first tablet brought to market. Yet its design, ease of use and, perhaps most importantly, its focus as a portable consumption device is what really differentiated it from tablets of the past. He was the first to suggest that a tablet was not only a personal computer; it was also a personal game machine, personal music player and personal movie player. Jobs' positioning of the iPad as a consumption device started rewriting the rules of personal computing. No longer were we tied to the laptop form factor. Instead, we were given a portable screen that just happened to have the guts of a PC in it, allowing us to use it just about anywhere and in just about any position.


I don't think anyone can argue that the tablet has revolutionized personal computing and is starting to reshape the PC and consumer electronics landscapes. This year we will sell around 300 million PCs and laptops while we will also sell just over 300 million tablets. By the end of 2015, we will be selling less than 300 million PCs and laptops and will be selling well over 350 million tablets. In fact, some market researchers think that by 2017 we could be selling 500 million tablets a year around the world. This makes tablets a serious growth market. While I state that the tablet journey has gone on for well over 20 years, its accelerated growth has come in just the last three years.


Another interesting point of reference is that most homes in developed markets have one PC or laptop. By 2016, these same homes will have about three tablets each, making them in many ways the most important computing tools in the family. With tablets priced as low as $49 with most of the relatively good models priced between $129 and $199, it's not too far fetched to suggest that every person in the home in these markets could have a tablet of their own by 2016. In emerging markets, we could have at least one tablet per home as well.


Although the smartphone has become the dominant personal communications device, its small screen makes it difficult to serve as a fully-functioning personal computer. Yes, it has a lot of the same power found in a tablet, but it falls quite short of being a device truly optimized for movies and videos and surfing the web. On the other hand, tablets with 7- and 8-inch screens make great media devices, while tablets with larger screens can be used for many forms of productivity.


PCs and laptops will never go away, since they still serve various digital needs for many people. But it's pretty clear that the tablet is on track to become the most pervasive personal computer the market has ever seen. The tablet has literally redefined what a personal computer is to people all over the world.


Bajarin is the president of Creative Strategies Inc., a technology industry analysis and market-intelligence firm in Silicon Valley. He contributes to Big Picture, an opinion column that appears every Monday on TIME Tech. www.best-budget-tablet.com For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

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Sunday 8 December 2013

Weekend Update: Armenian tablet computer inauguration; Turkish foreign ...


At the meeting of the Industrial Council, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan was presented a first Armenian-American Tablet computer, Armtab, developed by Armenian-American company Technology and Science Dynamics Inc / Armtab Technologies.



As the president of the company Vahan Shaqaryan informed, the company developed the test tablet computers of ' android' system with 7.85 , 9, 9.7 and 10.1 -inch screen, with possibilities of using 3G Internet and WiFi, as well as the first Armenian phone - Armfon (Armphone). The software design and technical support is provided by Armenia, with assembly in the United States and Hong Kong. The mass production and the sale of the Armenian tablet computers is scheduled to begin next year. The price for Armtab will range from $ 200-250 with one year warranty service.


At the 20th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Kiev, Ukraine, Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian spoke about the efforts of Armenia and international community on peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He expressed a hope that Azerbaijan is returning to the table of negotiations with a constructive approach, which could enable to speed up efforts to reach agreement on the basic principles, about which presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan expressed their willingness in the last joint statement adopted in January 2012 in Sochi. 'A constructive approach is necessary for reaching not only an agreement on the principles of the settlement, but also for the realization of the confidence-building measures, proposed by the Co-Chairs and supported by Armenia, such as consolidation of ceasefire, withdrawal of snipers from the line of contact and the establishment of a mechanism for the investigation of ceasefire violations,' said the Armenian minister.


In the first diplomatic push since Turkey and Armenia signed normalization protocols in 2009, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is due to visit Yerevan this week -- a move that appears significant for the restoration of diplomatic ties between Ankara and Yerevan, writes Turkish Today's Zaman. Davutoğlu is due to attend the upcoming Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) meeting in Yerevan. During the OSCE meeting in Kiev, Davutoğlu was not able to hold a bilateral meeting with Armenian counterpart Eduard Nalbandian because the Turkish foreign minister had a full schedule, said one senior Turkish diplomat, speaking to Today's Zaman on condition of anonymity. It was not clear whether Davutoğlu and Nalbandyan would hold a meeting in Yerevan. 'Although the visit is part of the BSEC meeting, it is still very important, as it is the first high-level visit from the Turkish side to Armenia. The visit is also important as it comes at a time in which Turkey has accelerated its efforts to find a path to permanent peace in the Caucasus. The visit will enable the sides to discuss the issues in the region,' said the Turkish diplomat.


Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the President of the South African Republic Jacob Zuma on the death of Nelson Mandela. 'Mandela's legacy transcends the borders of the South African Republic, bequeathing mankind with the power of love and tolerance, acceptance and reconciliation. The ideas and life journey of Nelson Mandela will undoubtedly inspire and lead many generations since his values and his life philosophy are infinite and enduring . . .'


At a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern on December 7, Armenia's Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan speaking about the ongoing reforms in the prosecution system. Kostanyan noted the need to strengthen the common approaches to the application of criminal law, effective control and inevitable responsibility for omissions. At the ambassador's request Kostanyan referred to the incident that took place last June in Syunik, when one person was killed and two wounded in a shootout near the Syunik governor's house. Heffern confirmed the readiness to continue promoting reforms implemented by the prosecutor's office, expressing hope that the cooperation between the Prosecutor General's Office and the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.


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