Monday, 14 February 2011

nTersect

nTersect

LG Unveils The Optimus Pad Supercharged With Dual Core Tegra 2 Goodness!

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 10:30 AM PST

Picking up where it left off just a month ago at CES, NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 processor continues to fuel the supertablet revolution here at MWC 2011 in Barcelona. This morning, LG took the wraps off of the Tegra 2 powered Optimus Pad tablet, the world’s first to feature a 3D camera for capture and sharing of three-dimensional video.

Optimus Pad features a unique 8.9″ display with a 15:9 aspect ratio. With full 1280 x 768 WXGA resolution, the screen packs plenty of pixels but makes the tablet easier to grip and use with one hand. With Tegra 2 inside, Optimus Pad can handle 1080p video playback and also deliver 3D video to big screens via integrated HDMI out. The tablet also features a 2MP front-facing camera for high definition videoconferencing applications.

Tegra 2 powered LG Optimus Pad - MWC 2011

LG’s presentation showed off the enhanced speed afforded by the dual-core processor, depicting a side-by-side Web browsing speed test with a single-core tablet competitor. They also highlighted Pad’s full 1080p video capture and playback capabilities and, of course, the 3D capture abilities made possible by a stereoscopic dual 5MP camera (with flash) on the back of the device.

Optimus Pad’s uniquely sized form factor was also highlighted as a standout feature. With an 8.9″ screen and weighing 644 grams, LG claims the device is optimally sized for two-thumb and full touch typing and one-handed use without leaving it too small to be productive – or fun – to use.

My hands-on time with the device – running pre-production software, I should point out – bore out LG’s claims about the Pad’s unique shape and lightweight being both practical and sized for one-handed use. The tablet felt good in the hand, looked spiffy, and was narrow enough to facilitate two-thumb typing in portrait orientation. While the Pad I played with wasn’t hooked up to an external 3D monitor, I did get a look at the 3D camcorder app, and am looking forward to checking out some Optimus-generated videos on YouTube 3D.

Tegra 2 Powers The New Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 08:35 AM PST

Samsung threw a subdued “Unpacked” event last night at Barcelona’s Palau St Jordi to unveil the Tegra 2-powered Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer. For most companies, an hour-long stage show involving live speakers synced with a multimedia presentation running on a 100 foot by 20 foot display wouldn’t be considered subdued. And a live performance by a strings and computer tablets orchestra definitely wouldn’t make for a “subdued” press conference. But for Samsung? This year’s show wasn’t quite as crazy as last year’s aerial acrobatic extravaganza.

Lack of flying dancers aside, the show wasn’t at all disappointing. And, hey, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 literally emerged amidst a cloud of smoke that covered the stage. Samsung launched didn’t disappoint, either. Galaxy Tab 10.1 builds on the original Tab in every possible way, from display size to operating system to, most importantly, the power of the processors inside. Between the world’s first mobile dual-core ARM CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce GPU in Tegra 2, the Tab 10.1 is ready for anything you want it to do, from faster Web browsing to full 1080p video and Flash-based content to the operating system itself. Google’s Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” is the first tablet-optimized version of Android, and it’s also the first GPU-accelerated user interface designed for tablets and other devices.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 powered by Tegra 2, on Flickr

I got some hands-on time with a Tab at the event, and it’s a nice device. Samsung did a good job balancing the benefits of the large 10.1″ display with the potential ergonomic drawbacks of such a large handheld product. Thin and light for its size, the Tab 10.1 feels well-made, and the backside is textured and contoured to make it easier to hold, grip, and balance during one- or two-handed use. Some silver accents set off the black design in a geek chic kind of way, too.

As you might guess, Samsung’s excited about their new Tegra 2-powered beast.

Don’t count me out of the pry; I’m psyched on the Tab 10.1, too. Why? Front-facing, video chat-ready 2MP camera, for one. 8MP rear camera with full 1080p HD video recording, for another. Add a massive battery to power it all, and a thin, light form factor, and Samsung’s got one heck of a tablet on their hands. With Tegra 2 to make it go. Ain’t nothing subdued about that.

Round-Up: Super Tablets @ Mobile World Congress 2011

Posted: 14 Feb 2011 03:00 AM PST

Android-based products continue to take the marketplace by storm.

Last month, it was Android superphones that tumbled down like a January snowstorm. This month, it's Android super tablets that are capturing headlines.

Big vendors like Acer, ASUS and Toshiba are unleashing products with extraordinary capabilities that many analysts believe will find an eager audience.

These super tablets combine NVIDIA's Tegra 2 mobile superchip with Google's Android operating system to provide a faster, nimbler, more visually rich experience. Powered by Tegra 2's dual-core CPU and GeForce GPU, they s enable multitasking with the ease and performance expected from a PC. They surf the Web with fast-loading pages and support hardware-accelerated Adobe Flash Player. And they're perfect for streaming the latest HD movies or enjoying console-quality gaming – even the cross-platform, multi-player versions in which a super tablet can be pitted against another tablet, console, PC or Mac.

"It's exciting to see the amount of Android tablets that are coming to market. With hardware-accelerated Flash support, Tegra 2 delivers a smooth Web experience of rich Flash based content ranging from video to games and Rich Internet Applications," commented Danny Winokur, Vice President, Flash Runtime at Adobe.

Consider the Acer ICONIA Tab A100 and A500 tablets. Designed for HD entertainment, they come with a high-resolution, high-color contrast 10.1" display that allows users to play or share HD video with friends. It's also a gaming machine for HD arcade games and online 3D games, with a 10-point multi-touch and gyro meter control.

Mark Yang, Acer's director of product management for the smart-handheld business, said, "Acer ICONIA TAB A100 and A500 are sleek, smart and full of innovative features that consumers will love. They'll feature the Tegra 2 super chip and Android OS for a tremendous web, 3D gaming and multimedia experience."

Or, check out ASUS, which will soon be bringing out two super tablets of its own, the Eee Pad Slider and Transformer. Those looking for the best of both tablet and notebook worlds should take a peek at the Eee Pad Slider. It features a 10.1-inch IPS touch-screen for finger-friendly use and a nifty slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Meanwhile, the Eee Pad Transformer comes with an optional docking station transforming it into a full-fledged notebook with a QWERTY keyboard for desktop use – and extending battery life up to 16 hours.

Samson Hu, GM of the Eee business at Asustek, said, "Our new Eee Pad Slider and Transformer tablets feature Tegra 2 for never-before-seen experiences, so consumers can consume and create content for learning, work or play."

Finally, Toshiba's super tablet, which is expected out during the first half of this year, includes new features and options for a highly personalized experience. Its 10.1-inch widescreen multi-touch display runs high-def 1280×800 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio. It also features a choice of multiple colors for the back cover and a replaceable battery pack.

"Our Honeycomb tablet PC excellently combines style and entertainment with many connectivity options, keeping you connected to the web or your favorite media," said Hidehito Murato, Chief Marketing Executive of Digital Products and Network Company at Toshiba. "Thanks to Tegra 2, it also provides the power for faster gaming, faster browsing and multitasking."

If you've been in the market for a tablet, your patience is about to pay off.
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