Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Deemed Best Tablet Display On The Market By ...

Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 Deemed Best Overall Tablet Display Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 Deemed Best Overall Tablet Display

Microsoft's Surface hybrid tablet line-up may have been met initially with a lukewarm reception on the company's first effort out of the gate, costing them a cool $900 million once upon a time, but there is little question that Redmond has been making significant improvements to the product and fleshing out its ecosystem better with each iteration. It also can be said that, from a hardware standpoint, Microsoft's Surface and Surface Pro lines have always offered a premium experience, with excellent build quality and top shelf components. Now it appears Microsoft's design expertise has been underscored by research firm DisplayMate technologies, that cited the Surface Pro 3 as sporting the best tablet display on the market currently in a number of key metrics.

When HotHardware reviewed the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 back in March upon its release, we came away impressed by not only the build quality and performance of the device but also that the display offered Microsoft's extra effort in color-calibrating the Surface Pro 3's screen. We noted that, 'in real-world use, the Surface Pro 3's screen is excellent. It's bright, rich, sharp, and uniform. It is definitely one of the Surface Pro 3's strong suits. '

The folks at DisplayMate Technologies have gone a step further beyond our analysis with specific, measurements in color gamut reproduction, sharpness, and subpixel accuracy. DM noted: 'The Surface Pro 3 also has the most accurate on-screen colors of any Tablet or Smartphone display that we have ever measured for the sRGB/Rec.709 Standard that is used in virtually all current consumer content for digital cameras, HDTVs, the internet, and computers, including photos, videos, and movies. ' And with respect to viewing angles, DisplayMate offered: 'The Surface Pro 3 has a high performance IPS / PLS LCD display, so we expected it to show very small color shifts with Viewing Angle, and our lab measurements confirmed its excellent Viewing Angle performance, with no visually noticeable color shifts.'

The detailed report goes on to characterize the high res 2160×1440 12-inch panel on the Surface Pro 3 as being 'one of the very best and most accurate displays available on any mobile platform and OS.' That's a lot of praise from a firm that dedicates almost its entire mission effort on rating computer, professional and consumer electronics displays almost exclusively. Other tablet offerings like Samsung's recently introduced Galaxy Tab S were also cited in the report and though Samsung's Super AMOLED displays offer killer saturation and brightness, they still couldn't keep up with the Surface Pro 3′s overall accuracy.

If there's one thing Microsoft has always seemed to do well with their hardware offering, it's to consistently launch quality-built products that typically highlight design and build quality over component cost. Though Microsoft still has some work to do with image and font scaling for apps within Windows 8 on these high res panels, there's no question the Surface team has a lot to work with and the product will likely only improve over time, as more developers and Microsoft themselves optimize the experience across a wide range of resolutions.

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KomandoHow to clean your TV, tablet and computer screenKomandoWhen was the last time you really looked at the glass covering your smartphone screen? If you do, you'll probably see a collection of oily fingerprints, dead skin or makeup from holding it up to your face, maybe some dust or flecks of spit from holding ... http://ift.tt/1hgKyaM For tablet reviews of the best budget tablets

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Humberside Police get £900k to buy Panasonic tablet computers for officers

HUMBERSIDE Police have been given £900,000 in Government money to buy tablet computers for officers.

Police officers and PCSOs across the force area will be given Panasonic tablet computers, which will allow them to complete paperwork while out on the beat.

The roll-out follows a trial in Cottingham, which is said to have allowed each officer to spend around two more hours each day on the streets.

Humberside police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove said: 'The public constantly tell us they want to see officers out on patrol in their communities but there will always be administrative duties they need to carry out.

'At present our officers are constantly pulled back into police stations as our IT is static and outdated.

'The average person in the street has more information on the smartphone in their pocket than a police officer carries.

'Not only will the new technology bring us into the 21st Century but, more importantly, it will increase the visibility of our officers at a time of reducing staff numbers.'

The grant has come from the Home Office Police Innovation Fund, following an application by Humberside and South Yorkshire Police. The two forces share an IT department and previously shared a £1m grant from the fund for investment in mobile technology.

Policing minister Mike Penning said: 'This bid displayed a high level of ambition.'

The Government said a similar grant will be made next year.

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Clan Carthy Primary gets tablet computers

Clan Carthy Primary gets tablet computers

THE teaching staff at Clan Carthy Primary School were recently presented with 30 tablet computers, under the government's Tablets in Schools initiative being implemented by eLearning Jamaica.

The teachers are also being trained to use the devices, which were presented under the government's US$1.5-million contract with Geo TechVision Enterprises to provide 10 schools with 5,069 tablets and accompanying services.

Additionally, 900 tablets are to be distributed to students for the start of the new academic year in September.

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell said the initiative is part of a 'joined up' effort with the Ministry of Education.

'This intervention is probably the most exciting one that you and I would have seen in our lifetime... we are bringing our education system into the 21st century and you are pioneers,' he told the teachers prior to the start of the training session.

'We want to ensure that our education system is on par, equivalent, better than our competitors...there is no reason why those students in the United States, Japan, should have better access to the tools than we do,' he added.

Paulwell said that while the initiative is not the panacea for all the issues in the education system, it will result in incremental benefits.

'What we really want to create is not a youngster who will memorise everything, and reproduce it on an exam paper...eventually, what we want is an inquisitive mind, to be able to do research, to innovate, and to be far more productive than we have been over the past 50 years. So this is truly a ground-breaking activity,' he said.

Principal of Clan Carthy Primary Sheldon Richards said last year the staff received level-one training in computer use, and were certified by the HEART NTA.

'Over 50 per cent of my staff is over 45 years old, and about 30 per cent are over 60...a number of teachers had expressed fears in using such technology, but I am quite impressed to see that these teachers are now communicating through e-mails. Even the way grades are taken and sent to the office, it's no longer long sheets of paper, handwritten...it is now Excel spreadsheets, so it is being used and the teachers are quite excited,' he said.

He pointed out that workshops have also been held throughout the year, in anticipation of the tablets.

Richards explained that the training will focus on the use of the tablets to deliver instruction to the students.

'Teachers are going to be taught how to use the different software and applications in order to best facilitate teaching with the use of the device,' he said.

He noted that the students are also extremely excited about receiving the tablets this September.

'They are just tripping over themselves in anticipation of what is to come,' he noted.

Grade Two teacher Tracy Fisher-Williams said she anticipates the training session will better enable the teachers to reach those students, who are behind, and make them more excited to learn.

Fisher-Williams said she has benefited greatly from last year's training, which provided guidance on where to find online educational resources to enhance the learning process, as well as create power-point presentations, and other useful tools for the classroom.

Vice-Principal and Grade Six teacher Winsome Reid said the training has helped the teaching staff, exposing them to new technology and its use in the classroom. 'Although it was rigourous, I have learnt a lot, and I have been employing it in the classroom, exposing the children to what the world has to offer...(I am expecting), new ideas, how I can get students to be more interested in learning,' she said.

'Anything that will enhance learning, I welcome. Under normal circumstances, our school would not have been able to afford this. We welcome the partnership. I am expecting the grades to go up in the weak areas, such as comprehension and Math,' the vice-principal said.

The aim, she said, is to make learning student-centred, enabling the children to learn and discover knowledge on their own.

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Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S – 8.4

Tablet computers are like buses, you spend ages waiting for a good one to come along and then suddenly two of them arrive at once.

There are the two variations of the new Galaxy Tab S tablet computer from Samsung, which claims the devices lend themselves to an unrivalled entertainment experience. The devices come in two sizes a large 10.5-inch version and a dainty little 8.4-inch version.

The first impression each device makes on you is that they are stylish in the extreme. While I won't say they are the most visually attractive tablet computers in the market, they are probably the most visually unique - wrapped in a copper coloured band.

The white and bronze 8.4-inch one makes me thing of First Holy Communion decorations for some reason.

Anyway, the first thing you will actually notice about the devices is truly their screens, which are Super AMOLED that Samsung claims express more colours than ever before and which have a hundred thousand to one contrast ratio.

All I can say is that they are extremely bright and vivid and catch your attention.

Another thing worth noting in terms of look and feel is just how light each device is: the small 8.4-inch tablet weighs just 300 grams while its bigger brother weights marginally below 500 grams. To give some perspective, the Galaxy S5 smartphone weights just over 145 grams.

Another nice feature is the bezel on each device is tiny which at times makes you think information is floating on air. Quite a nice effect actually.

Samsung is peddling these as entertainment hubs and while there is plenty of entertainment options, few of them are actually available yet in Ireland.

The hardware Review - Samsung Galaxy Tab S

In terms of wireless there are two variations of each device - a Wi-Fi only version and a version with Wi-Fi and cellular (2G, 3G and 4G.

The devices come with some clever new features that are going to be standard on future computer/phone combinations such as the ability to take and receive calls from your phone directly onto the tablet's screen.

Unfortunatley this feature known as Sidesync only works on Samsung devices and since I don't have access Galaxy smartphone I wasn't able to put it through its paces.

One nifty new feature is Samsung S Voice which allows you to control the machine with your voice. Okay so this is Samsung's answer to Apple's Siri and in terms of recognising my Irish accent I found it similarly shambolic. In fact the only real voice technology that has any merit is, in my opinion, Google's voice search which works on any current smartphone or tablet.

Both the 10.5 and the 8.4 inch devices come with a full HD 8 megapixel camera on the rear with an LED flash while the front facing camera is 2.1 megapixels HD.

Both devices were brilliant for taking pictures on and the vivid screen made each the perfect lightbox. However, there is a bit of a stigma associated with using tablet devices to take pictures but maybe people will just grow out of that.

While the position of the rear camera on the larger device at the middle can mean you're likely to cover the lens with your fingers at times (if holding it in portrait position) taking pictures on a tablet device has its benefits - I particularly like the zoom feature on the Tab S devices.

In terms of storage the machines each boast 3GB of RAM plus 16GB of internal memory.

Each machine comes with a Qualcomm 2.3GHz Quadcore processor

Selling points

I suspect the main selling points of the devices will be their screens and their potential as entertainment hubs. Watching video and playing games on the devices with the rich colours was definitely exciting.

Samsung says that what's unique about the new tablet family is that their screens are ideal for reading and interacting with content while outside in the direct sunlight. And with the weather the way it had been recently in Ireland it was a good time to check it out.

Each device comes with Adaptive Display whereby sensors automatically adjust settings like gamma, saturation and sharpness based on the app you are using, the colour temperature of the environment you are in and the lighting.

You can also pre-set the device to two professional modes - AMOLED Cinema and AMOLED photo based on whether you are using the device to snap pictures or capture video.

Both devices have different battery capacity because of their size and screen dimensions but on the whole I found them to be quite rugged and only had to charge each device at least once over about two to three days.

Verdict

So these are the Samsung Galaxy S Tab computers. Overall they are sleek, powerful and meet most of the needs of today's hectic digital lifestyle.

The devices are quite versatile and light and ultimately for me the winner is the screen quality which at 100,000:1 contrast ratio provides a nice competitor to Apple's competing iPad range with Retina.

However, where I fear the devices may stumble is in terms of price - the 8.4-inch version is available from €399 while the 10.5 inch version is priced from €499.

Where this may go against Samsung is the fact that competing devices like the Asus Nexus 7-inch device costs just €250 while most people today could buy a decent personal computer for around €500. That said, Apple's competing 7.9-inch device iPad Mini with Retina display starts at €399 while the 9.7-inch iPad Air starts at €489 - so you really are comparing Apples with Samsungs and getting pretty much the same thing.

So, that was the Samsung Tab S family. Beautifully designed tablet computers with a vivid and beautiful screen quality. I gave them four Silicon Republic stars out of five.

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Personal Computers: Investing Essentials

The personal computer industry has traditionally been a hotbed of technological innovation. Driven by continued advancements across multiple vectors by powerful companies such as Intel, Apple, and Microsoft, the personal computer has become an indispensable tool for both work and play.

But in recent years, the form factors that have traditionally been classified as PCs -- notebook and desktop computers -- have come under pressure. While macroeconomic weakness has played a role, a much bigger culprit has been the shift of wallet share to tablet computers such as Apple's iPad.

That said, with the traditional PC market starting to show signs of improvement, it is worth taking a closer look at this industry, which is intimately tied to many publicly traded companies, from system vendors to component suppliers.

What is the personal computer industry? The PC industry, in a nutshell, involves the manufacture and sale of personal computers. A big question facing industry observers today is just what is a personal computer?

Traditionally speaking, a personal computer has more or less been a notebook or desktop computer. But as many computer vendors have embraced Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system -- which offers a touch-based user interface alongside the more traditional keyboard and mouse interface -- the line between a 'personal computer' and a 'tablet computer' has blurred.

This blurring works both ways: As tablets have featured improved hardware and software, they have increasingly been able to perform tasks that were once the exclusive domain of notebook and desktop computers. With additional accessories such as Bluetooth keyboards, it seems that tablet computers are becoming more like personal computers.

How big is the personal computer industry? This is an incredibly difficult question to answer because it hinges on one's definition of a personal computer. But for now, let's use the traditional PC market here.

The traditional PC market, according to research firm IDC, is on track to ship about 296.3 million units this year, downfrom the prior-year level of 315.1 million units. One thing to note is that this estimate was issued before Intel-- the leading supplier of PC processors -- raised its guidance on the back of stronger than expected PC sales. But the ballpark figure seems to be 300 million units.

How does the personal computer industry work? The majority of personal computers sold typically come from large original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs. The top five OEMs by unit shipments during the second quarter of 2014 worldwide, according to IDC, were:

Lenovo (19.6% market share) Hewlett-Packard (18.3% market share) Dell (14%) market share Acer Group (8.2% market share) ASUS (6.2% market share) All others (33.6% market share)

The top three vendors grew units by double-digit percentages year over year. ASUS grew 3.3%, Acer Group dropped 2.5%, and the rest combined saw unit shipments plunge 18.5%. The industry as a whole saw shipments drop 1.7% from the previous year.

In addition to the more traditional OEM PC shipments, there is a 'do it yourself' crowd that prefers to buy individual components from brick-and-mortar shops or from online retailers such as Amazon.com. These 'homegrown' personal computers represent a small fraction of overall PC sales, though it is tough to get exact figures.

What are the drivers of the personal computer industry? The personal computer industry is very mature at this point, so much of the sales volume is driven by users replacing broken and out-of-date systems. Though Intel has often cited a large opportunity for total addressable market growth in the emerging markets, tablets -- which offer increasingly robust computing on the cheap -- have eaten significantly into that opportunity.

Right now, there is real strength in business PCs, particularly thanks to a robust upgrade cycle driven by Microsoft's end of technical support for Windows XP. But the consumer PC market is still challenging, according to both Intel and its chief rival, Advanced Micro Devices. Intel and the rest of the industry hope to help reinvigorate this market with new products such as fanless convertible/detachable PCs with compelling battery life, but we won't see the full impact of these new products until next year.

The lukewarm reception to Microsoft's Windows 8 may be another culprit in continued weakness in consumer PCs. A compelling Windows 9 -- likely due in mid-2015 -- could drive consumers to shift wallet share to PC purchases. But only time will tell if this scenario plays out.

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iPad Tablets Running on Empty

iPad sales have slumped. Sales dropped in the fourth quarter of 2013 and now in the third quarter of 2014 sales are approximately a million units behind last year's fourth quarter. Putting on a smiley face, CEO of Apple, Inc., Tim Cook explained the partnership with IBM will strengthen its market as the device enters an IBM atmosphere and workplace. It could be Apple's iPad computing unit, and other tablet makers are running on empty, and running out of innovative concepts or ideas.

When first introduced, snide remarks about the name of the tablet ricocheted all over the place, even as Apple, Inc. laughed all the way to every bank in town stuffing money in vaults from skyrocketing sales. It was an actually momentous device that once again changed the computing industry in an unforseen way.

However, not many people remember the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) Newton, introduced by Apple in 1987 and discontinued in 1998. The Newton, another product idea ahead of its time, was the inspiration for the iPad. When Newton's decades later replacement was introduced and sales reached beyond the atmosphere of reality, experts of the computer industry took it upon themselves to announce the end of the PC and Mac computers.

Now the death knell for PC's and Macs is starting to subside, four years later. PCs and Macs sales are either on the rise or at least stabilizing. Apple's tablet computing platform, however, is not faring so well. Maybe it is time to announce the death of the iPad and tablet computers. Maybe not.

Tablets, either Apple based or PC based, are not exactly replacement devices for computers. They are more an adjunct computing platform, having a separate function and purpose. It is a niche device, one example of that is its current use for young children, and those in the lower grades in elementary schools across the world. Children are never running on empty and may always be a market standard for the iPad and other tablets.

Perhaps in looking at the sales of tablets as a whole, one might just watch the market for a while longer. Apple's tablet owners are satisfied customers, and its sales still hold a dominant place in the market of tablet sales, despite the stiff competition from other tablet competitors like Microsoft, Samsung, and Amazon.

Another factor to consider in the sales not reaching the clouds scenario is the durability of this ever-present unique computing device. As a recent commercial demonstrated, an iPad might be used as a cutting board, and washed off before putting it in the dishwasher drying rack after dinner. It's meant to show the durability of Apple's tablet. People aren't replacing them because they are lasting for such a long time, and their owners are happy with them.

A shift in the use of Apple's unique computing platform and other types of tablets is probably going to be the next trend in a business market. It may very well be the current business shift is for companies to replace many of their laptop executive computers with tablet devices containing more processing power and business oriented programs. Of course, to compete in this market, the Apple's versatile tablet either needs a new model or a less expensive one.

Apple has not come out with a new device, transforming product, or other sales smashing idea for a long time. Perhaps all the rumors, speculation, and lack of new product is over. Perhaps Apple is hiding a surprise that will spin everyone around with some astounding innovation once again. Running on empty is not a slogan Apple has ever embraced, and the iPad will probably always be ahead of other tablets in the innovation arena. It is not everyday, however, that a Steve Jobs appears on the scene, and changes technology in ways no one envisioned.

By Andy Towle

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Google Nexus 6 joining HTC Corporation Nexus 9 tablet computer running ...

There's a new report suggesting that this year, HTC Corporation will provide the Nexus tablet computer with 9-inch touchscreen display. This new tablet computer is possibly joining the Nexus 6 smartphone to showcase the new Android L mobile operating system.

If this rumor is true (hopefully it is), HTC Corporation will supply this year's Nexus tablet computer that will replace the Nexus 7. Reported on Monday by seasoned 'leaker' evleaks, the Taiwan-based OEM will release a brand new tablet computer later this year that will sport the Nexus branding. For starters, Nexus devices are Google products that run the latest and greatest version/s of Android, and these devices are always getting the software update from the search engine giant ahead of 'skinned' or Android devices that run custom user interface.

Besides the T1 Volantis/Flounder/Nexus 9, HTC is developing two other tablets: the T7 and T12 - http://t.co/Kf7ifgG2Gz

- @evleaks (@evleaks) July 21, 2014

The Nexus 7 successor according to evleaks is taking the Google Nexus 9 (with code-name T1) name because it will feature a 9-inch touchscreen display. Last year, ASUS manufactured the Nexus 7, and yes, it sports a 7-inch display. Surprisingly, the report also revealed that HTC Corporation will also release two other tablet computers dubbed the T2 and T3.

No word yet about other features of the HTC Nexus 9, but it's a safe bet that it will feature a better display than the Nexus 7, hopefully with more pixels per inch - and with better display, HTC's unannounced tablet will most likely need a more powerful processor.

Aside from the Nexus 9, Google is also expected to retail the Nexus 6, the phone that will replace the LG Nexus 5. Both the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 are rumored to ship with the upcoming Android L mobile operating system. For readers who are not aware of Android L - it's the 'biggest' Android software update yet based on user interface changes. Google is implementing the so-called with brand new colors, transition and functionalities.

Posted in: Smartphones, Tablet Computers. Tags: Android L, HTC Corporation, Mobile Operating System, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Smartphones, Tablet Computers.

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NVIDIA's SHIELD Tablet is the next step in Android/PC gaming

What if the NVIDIA SHIELD were different? The portable gaming device turned heads on launch, and continued to do so well into its lifespan, supporting PC gaming as well as Android. The latest iteration of SHIELD takes it one step further, bringing you a tablet and controller that work together, but aren't joined at the hip.

The SHILED Tablet and SHIELD Controller are meant to work together, but also don't have to. The tablet itself is a robust performer, running things with the NVIDIA K1 chipset, which has 192 GPU cores. The 8-inch display is full HD with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Front-facing speakers house NVIDA's Pure Sound technology and a dual bass reflex port. The 16 or 32GB internal storage is upgradable to 128GB via micro SD card, And two 5MP cameras will keep you shooting pics as well as on-screen enemies.

The tablet also has a stylus - and a good one at that. NVIDIA says theirs is the first GPU accelerated stylus, which will be great for artists. Blending colors and altering light sources are the name of the game here, and don't worry about losing track of the stylus; like any good digital pen, it has a place in the tablet.

The controller is much like you find with the current SHIELD - responsive, stylish, and a pleasure to game with. NVIDIA is using WiFi to couple the controller with your tablet, which they say has two-times lower latency than Bluetooth. If you have a favorite controller, Bluetooth or wired, you can use that as well - it just won't be as good as the controller NVIDIA has. Android enthusiasts will like that the controller has voice capabilities; just hold down the home button, and ask it to launch a game or perform a search!

Gaming remains the focus for NVIDIA and their SHIELD lineup, and the SHIELD Tablet is the best and brightest for this. The SHIELD Tablet is the first to offer Gamestream, which is the backbone of what NVIDIA accomplishes here. You can play PC or Android games, and stream (get it?) them to your TV. Perhaps better, you can join up to four controllers at once to play multi-player games with your SHIELD Tablet.

Of course, you'll get access to SHIELD Hub, which is your jumping-off point for NVIDIA gaming. For those interested in sharing their gaming experience, NVIDIA is also allowing Twitch streaming. When you're gaming on the tablet, the NVIDIA SHIELD cover lets you acheive the optimal screen angle - no matter what that is for you.

An 8-inch tablet with a blazing fast processor, WiFi or LTE, a stellar controller, groundbreaking stylus, Android and PC gaming, and the ability to both stream games to your TV and play with friends - what more could you want? How about a price-point that starts at $299, and a controller that sets you back $59? The SHIELD Tablet will be available later this year, but pre-orders are currently being accepted via the SHIELD page, Amazon, Best Buy, Fry's, GameStop, Micro Center, NewEgg, Tiger Direct, Memory Express, NCIX, ThinkGeek, or Canada Computers.

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Microsoft Corporation Surface Mini DOA? Lenovo ends small Windows 8 tablet ...

Lenovo said it will stop the production of small Windows 8 tablet computers in United States due to low sales. Can Microsoft Corporation's rumored Surface Mini change the trend?

Rumor has it that Microsoft will sell a smaller version of its Windows 8-based tablet computer and it will be called Surface Mini. But based on Lenovo's latest decision, the Redmond-based tech giant will have a lot of work to do to lure buyers.

A spokesman of the Chinese company said on Thursday that it will stop selling Windows 8 tablet computers in United States 'due to lack of interest' - and buyers are reportedly more interested in Windows tablets with bigger touchscreen display. Lenovo added that smaller Windows tablets are more popular in other countries like in China, Brazil and even Japan.

Is Microsoft Corporation to blame? Or Lenovo is not so popular in the United States tablet PC market?

Lenovo and other tablet computer manufacturers are currently competing with Apple inc's iPad Mini with Retina display. I should note that Android-based tablet computers with small touchscreen display are more popular than Windows in United States based on sales data from multiple research firms.

Lenovo's ThinkPad 8 is a very competitive product and one of the top small Windows 8 tablet computers based on specs. It ships with the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, offers a 1080p display, Microsoft productivity apps, USB 3, Micro HDMI and Micro USB ports, and it also includes two cameras. It's possible that smaller Windows 8 tablets, including Lenovo's ThinkPad 8, are struggling in United States because many Windows 8 apps are made for tablets and laptops with larger display. Lenovo's decision to abandon the US small tablet PC market could also be related to the rumored Surface Mini.

According to latest reports, Microsoft's partner manufacturers are now 'mass producing' Surface Mini tablets - and the new Windows 8 tablet PC category will arrive later this year. If true, the Surface Mini will compete with Apple's rumored new Retina iPad Mini, Google's rumored new Nexus tablet computer lineup, and other Android-based small tablet computers like the Kindle Fire, Samsung Galaxy Tab and others.

Read More: Microsoft to release Surface Mini later this year according to a report

Posted in: Tablet Computers. Tags: Apple, iPad Mini, Lenovo ThinkPad, Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft Surface Mini, Microsoft Surface Pro 3, Tablet Computers.

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Board Moves Forward with Tablet Computers

Jackson School District Officials are working to put tablet computers in students hands this fall. Tuesday night, Jackson County School Board Members voted to move forward with a lease agreement to get the tablets.

If the agreement isn't approved next month, the process may take some time.

Jackson County School Board members tentatively voted Tuesday night in-favor of a motion to enter into a lease agreement to get tablet computers for all k-through-third graders.

Before they take a final vote next month, they need some answers.

'To be able to go out for this lease, we needed to know what we were looking at and what the cost factors would be, what the interest rate would be for all of the devices,' board member Charlotte Gardner said.

They say the devices are necessary for students to keep up with constantly changing technologies.

'We're really wanting our student achievement to soar, and to be able to do this it gives them more individualized instructions to help them accomplish and be all that they can be,' Gardner said.

Buying them would cost about $1 million. They believe leasing is the better option.

'After three years, we're doing a dollar buyouts, so we can either buy the devices and use them for other purposes, or we just send them back to the company and get new devices the next year,' Supervisor of Federal Programs Michael Kilts said.

Vice Chairman Gardner hopes to have the leasing agreement approved next month. If the agreement fails next month, it may be January before the tablets are available.

Middle schoolers would be next to receive the tablets in 2015, high schoolers in 2016. The board is hoping to have the devices ready for students by October 1st.

The state is requiring all school students have personal computers by 2017.

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Votes Split Over Computer Tablets For West Earl Township Officials

By Justin Stoltzfus; Justin Stoltzfus Correspondent

Proquest LLC

BY JUSTIN STOLTZFUS

Correspondent

West Earl Township supervisors are getting new tablet computers - but they got them on a close vote.

At their Monday meeting, the board voted 3-2 to go ahead with purchasing tablets and data plans in order to improve record- keeping.

Township manager Candie Johnson provided pricing information, saying a set of Verizon Nokia tablets provides the most affordable option. The tablets will cost $499 each.

Johnson said the data plan for all six tablets will be $100 per month.

'What if we don't know how to use a tablet?' asked supervisor Russell Ressler Jr., adding he reads things better on paper.

'I'd like to try it.' said Supervisor Vice Chair John Ford.

Ford said if the supervisors buy tablets in what he called a 'pilot project,' the planning commission and the water authority may also think about purchasing them.

Ford suggested that tablets might ultimately have a lot of value for the board in terms of convenience.

Supervisor Butch Keppley said that in his opinion, it's unlikely that the board would 'break even' on the purchase in terms of a return on investment.

Still, he said, making records digital would enable a better file of historic data for township business.

Keppley asked about an insurance plan in case the tablets were dropped or otherwise damaged.

Johnson said the tablets would have a protection plan, and that the township would also buy strong plastic cases for them.

When asked about his opinion on tablets, supervisor Richard L. Stover simply gave a thumbs-down.

'I'm not going to use it.' Stover said.

Supervisor Chair Dale Wissler suggested Stover's tablet could be kept at the township.

Ressler said record retrieval with the new digital system might not be as easy as anticipated.

Wissler pointed out that most kinds of searches can be done easily with a simple keyword search of an archive - using a person's name or the name of a development project, for example.

The board ultimately voted 3-2 to purchase the tablets, along with a scanner for paper documents.

Ressler and Stover were the two 'no' votes.

Supervisors read back the motion to authorize Johnson to buy the six tablets, with some suggesting purchasing less than six tablets.

When reached for comment Tuesday, Johnson said she plans to buy the six tablets as planned.

For more Conestoga Valley area news, visit: MyConestogaValleyNews.com

Copyright:

(c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.

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396

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Tablet Sales Sag

Tablet sales slumped for the first time since the iPad's introduction, suggesting that more consumers may be opting for large-screen smartphones.

Amazon Fire: 6 Key Points

(Click image for larger view and slideshow.)

Big-screened smartphones continue to put the hurt on tablet sales. Shipments of tablet computers around the globe retracted during the first three months of the year, according to new data from NPD DisplaySearch, marking the first retreat since the iPad debuted in 2010. The drop in shipments could spell trouble for makers of tablets and other gear.

Tablet manufacturers shipped about 56 million units during the first quarter, down from approximately 59 million during the same period a year ago. The drop isn't enormous, but it is cause for concern. Tablet shipments have gone nowhere but up, up, up during the four years following the Apple iPad's arrival. The iPad is generally held responsible for the modern resurgence in tablet computing.

[Samsung's smartphone sales sag. See Samsung Smartphone Juggernaut Shows Signs Of Weakness.]

NPD DisplaySearch suggests increasing sales of large-screened phones are partly responsible for the decline in tablet shipments. Oversized smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, HTC One Max, and Nokia Lumia 1520 are more appealing than small tablets to many consumers.

'Tablet PC demand in 2014 is being impacted by falling demand for seven-inch-class sizes in emerging regions and in China, where many local white-box brands have experienced lower-than-expected shipment growth,' said Hisakazu Torii, VP, smart application research at NPD DisplaySearch. Sales of tablets with screens ranging from seven to eight inches represented 58% of the entire tablet market in 2013.

NPD's research corroborates recent findings from Accenture, which suggested sales of large-screen phones are primed to take off at the expense of smaller tablets. Last month, Accenture conducted an online survey of 23,000 consumers across 23 countries. Of those polled, a significant percentage indicated they'd rather buy a big phone than what is now defined as a conventional smartphone, or a device with a screen measuring between four and five inches. Emerging markets posted the strongest interest in big phones. Further, Accenture's data suggests tablet buyers also maximize when it comes to screen size. The survey discovered 72% of potential tablet buyers would prefer a full-sized tablet, while only 20% would prefer a smaller tablet.

Samsung also revealed data suggesting sales of small-screened tablets are cooling. This week the company warned of lower profits thanks to sluggish sales of tablets -- particularly those with smaller screens.

Replacement cycles are another factor. Both NPD and Samsung say instead of replacing tablets every year, consumers are following a cycle similar to laptops. 'There is a risk that the replacement cycle for tablet PCs will lengthen beyond the one- to two-year range unless brands can develop more attractive usage scenarios,' noted NPD DisplaySearch's Torii.

InformationWeek's new Must Reads is a compendium of our best recent coverage of the Internet of Things. Find out the way in which an aging workforce will drive progress on the Internet of Things, why the IoT isn't as scary as some folks seem to think, how connected machines will change the supply chain, and more. (Free registration required.)

Apple stills sells more tablets than any other hardware maker, but Samsung places second. The companies rank 33% and 22% of the global market, respectively. Despite flooding the market with new models, consumers aren't buying in the same numbers they were in 2013. NPD says gear makers are already changing their orders for the rest of the year. The research firm now expects tablet shipments to grow just 14% this year, reaching 285 million units. That's down from the 315 million units NPD previously forecast. NPD believes growth in the tablet market will drop to single digits as soon as 2017.

Eric is a freelance writer for InformationWeek specializing in mobile technologies. View Full Bio

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