Welcome to this Technology Blog
Technology Blog Featured | Five of the best iPad alternatives
Samsung AMOLED RFID e-passport showcased
At the Cebit Trade Fair held at Bundesdruckerei, Samsung recently showcased the world’s first ePassport equipped with a fully functional AMOLED display a couple of days ago. The AMOLED RFID e-passport embeds a 2-inch QVGA resolution flexible display into an identity card. Intended to show a 360-degree view of the card-holder, rather than just a full-on headshot, the e-passport uses an AMOLED display so frugal it can be powered wireless via an RFID reader.
It also has a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and can display 260k colors, according to Samsung. Although this is just a one off, and will probably never go in to production (i’ll bet there are tons of government agencies trying it out) it is a very nice concept. I would be quite happy to whip out my AMOLED passport to the customs official, and would opt for that over my terrible-photo-passport anyday.
Check out the video below for more;
Sanyo SPL Eneloop electric bicycle unveiled
I am all for electronically powered vehicles. From the Toyata Prius Hybrid to the Tesla supercar – which can outrun a Lotus Elise in a straight line (courtesy Top Gear). But what if you are not in the market for an electronic car or a hybrid, what if you want something which can get you from a to b and stow away nicley in your front porch?
Electronic bicycles have been around for a while, however most have been a somewhat miss. Take for example the Ultra Motor A2B – it charges to 80% in just less than an hour and has a detachable battery. It then, it seems, is the perfect way to get around from a to b and at the same time, where appropriate, to get you from a to b with next to little effort as the battery supplied will chug you along nicely.
The Sanyo SPL Eneloop though takes the electronic bicycle a little further. The Eneloop bike takes a a bite out of the hybrid car handbook – when you brake or go downhill, you charge the battery. Like all electric bikes, the electric motor only kicks in when necessary – it’ll give you a boost when going uphill or accelerating, but lets you use your own steam on the flat. Sadly, however, the Eneloop will be launching in China initially.
It’ll set you back in the region of 157,290 yen (round about £1,150), but with no international launch specified, this it seems is another one of ‘those’ inventions which takes a leap forward in terms of advancement, but not a leap forward in terms of markets. Which is a shame, because i’d have great fun riding it around the office.
Thanks to Energy Assessor Training for the heads up.
Apple’s iPad gets UK release date
Apple’s much anticipated iPad has finally gotten its official UK release date. In a statement, Apple revealed that the iPad will be released within the UK ‘late-April’ with both the Wifi and 3G editions launching at the same time.
The US is set to get its mits on the iPad first, and if you are in the US you can pre-order the 3G version online, via the Apple website, from the 12th of March.
This latest news brings to a close many rumours surrounding the actual release date for the UK, with many people speculating that it could be late March.
“We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before,” said Steve Jobs in the press release.
Five of the best iPad alternatives
We have all heard of it, we have all pretty much seen it and everybody has mixed views and opinions on it. Reviewers show mixed praise, bloggers show mixed posts. But just what are you to do if you are in the market for a tablet, but want one which will multi task? The iPad is the first tablet to be shown the major spotlight, and with the official UK release date now revealed, you may be tempted to splash out for Apple’s latest offering.
But you do not have to snap up the iPad just because this is the first tablet to offer what you might want. Here is a round up of the best iPad alternatives on / soon to be on offer;
___________________________________________________________________________________
MSI Tegra Tablet – $499 (more for higher specs)
Computer and portable electronics maker MSI will launch its tablet PC in the second half of 2010 with an NVIDIA Tegra chip, the tablet was originally shown off at CES using the dual-core Tegra 250 chip and featured a 10-inch color touchscreen, but it wasn’t given a hard release window at the time. MSI will launch different versions of the tablet as well, some with bigger hard drives and added ROM.
___________________________________________________________________________________
HP Slate PC – $499 (£320)
The HP Slate will run Windows 7, and apparently be as portable as a mobile phone. Multi tasking galore, this tablet which is to be on sale later this year and will be under $500 and as such should be able to compete directly with Apple in terms of price range. The only question is – do you want simplicity and apps, or a powerful and highly functional UI?
___________________________________________________________________________________
Lenovo IdeaPad U1 hybrid – $999 (£610)
The Lenavo Ideapad U1 Hybrid is, and will be throughout 2010, one of the products I would love to own. Unfamiliar? Well heres the good bit; The 11.6-inch Ideapad U1 hybrid features a detachable, tablet-style screen. When the screen is locked in to the chassis it’s a Windows 7 Home Premium laptop with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. When it’s pulled from its shell it becomes a Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered, multi-touch slate with 16GB storage, running Lenovo’s Skylight Linux system.
___________________________________________________________________________________
T-Mobile Vega – $TBC (£TBC)
Aimed at people who have a T-mobile phone contract, or internet connection, The Android-based Vega uses the Tegra 250 chipset that we now know as the NVIDIA Tegra 2, and T-Mobile are targeting the slate specifically at the ‘Mum’ segment who, they hope, will readily adopt it as the linchpin of their family lives. An Android powered tablet? Definetely worth a look. It could mainly be used as a home hub media center, controlling various PC extensions and connections.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Google Tablet – $TBC (£TBC)
Granted, it is early days yet – and granted, nobody knows exactly how it will look yet – and granted, it will bear the Google logo, seen as some as geeky. But come on, with the Nexus One being an awesome phone, you’d only expect the GTablet to be awesome too. Although no release date has been confirmed yet, expect it mid-end 2010. I will keep you updated, as this should be a major competitor to the iPad.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Wallstreet Journal hints at Sony Apple assault
Sony has been said to be readying a range of brand new range of consumer devices in a so called attempt to take Apple on, according to reports within The Wall Street Journal.
The Japanese company, which is apparently working on a new smartphone capable of playing downloadable games like the iPhone does, and a multifunction device like the iPad, is aiming to make a splash where, recently, Microsoft showcased WM7 with XBox Live syndication – which without question could bring mobile gaming forward.
The Wallstreet Journal reported that “people familiar with the matter” said that Sony is working with Sony Ericsson on the new smartphone.
“While the capital structure of the 50-50 joint venture hasn’t changed, Sony is taking a more active role in developing handsets for the partnership because of how central smartphones are becoming to the company’s overall strategy,” said The Wall Street Journal.
-
Latest Comments
