Microsoft Windows 7 Tablets To Be Released This Year

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer giving the keynote at the Worldwide Partner Conference told everyone in the audience to expect Windows 7 slate computers before the end of the year. These devices Ballmer said will be designed with both consumers and enterprise users in mind. The software maker is said to be working with a number of manufacturers to bring the tablets to the market. "They will come from the people you would expect. From Asus, from Dell, from Samsung, from Toshiba, from Sony," Ballmer said. He did noticeably fail to mention Hewlett-Packard in the list of vendors and previously HP was seen as one of Microsoft's key partners in the category of tablet-style computers until it bought out Palm for $1.2 million earlier this year. Many observers think HP now plans on introduce a slate based on Palm's webOS. Another of Balmer's presentation slides, however included HP in the list of vendors developing Microsoft-based slates. Other vendors listed on the graphic included Lenovo, Fujitsu, Onkyo, MotionComputer, Pegatron, Hanvon, and MSI.

Without saying the name of their major competitor, Ballmer said Microsoft expects to take a significant piece of the slate market by delivering a wide variety of devices that fit in both home and business environments, all of which will be compatible with Microsoft's suite of management and security tools. "We want to give you a consumer-oriented device, but a device that fits and is manageable with today's enterprise IT solutions," Ballmer said. "They'll come with keyboards, they'll come without keyboards, they'll be dockable, there'll be many form factors, many price points, many sizes. But they will run Windows 7," he added.

With more than three million iPads sold in the device's first 80 days in the market, Microsoft will need to move quickly to get some of the momentum in one of technology's hottest new markets. What do you think of the thought of a Microsoft tablet? Would you be willing to buy one? Share your thoughts below!

Dell’s Flash, Lightning, Smoke, and Thunder SmartPhones Leaked

Dell might not currently be putting its best efforts when it comes to smartphones, but it looks like that is all about to change with its plans for Windows Phone 7 and Android. Engadget was sent some slides of Dell's Lightning, Flash, Smoke and Thunder phones, which are being worked on currently for a future release. Lightning is a phone which plans to run Windows Phone 7, has a vertical QWERTY slider with a 4.1WVGA AMOLED display, a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, 802.11b/g/n, 8GB microSD card, 1GB ROM / 512MB RAM and 1GHz processor. The Lightning will be able to run on both AT&T and T-Mobile's 3G networks with download speeds of upto 7.2 MBps, although you're going to have to choose one or the other. Thunder is equipped with Android 2.1 Eclair and Dell's social media friendly Stage� UI overlay. The specs are similar to that of the Lightning except it also has a full-QWERTY keyboard and an 8-megapixel camera instead of 5. It's also said to have Flash 10.1 support and a Hulu app, making it seem like the competition winner amongst several smartphones. Dell's Flash is said to feature Android 2.2 Froyo� with a Sage UI, and is positioned as a mid-range smartphone. It has a 3.5 WVGA touchscreen display, a feature packed 5 megapixel camera, support for microSD cards up to 64GB, WiFi, TV-out, Bluetooth 3.0, 512MB ROM / RAM, AT&T friendly tri-band HSPA that peaks at 14.4MBps down all powered by an 800MHz processor. Finally, there's Dell's Smoke, which is another Froyo device and the most affordable of the bunch, which has a 2.8� QVGA display, QWERTY keypad, 800MHz processor, 5 megapixel camera, WiFI, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 14.4MBps HSDPA and sports dual microphones. You can see all the pics here.

The Zune 64GB Leaked Info

With speculations of the new Zune HD 64 hitting the market in the not so distant future, Dell home has dropped the prices of the Zune HD drastically. The Zune HD 32GB is available for the price tag of $199 and the 16GB is a mere $140.

With Microsoft having a new portable media solution in Windows Phone 7 the Zune is going through a complete re marketing phase. With windows phone 7 launch date unknown, the old underachieving Zune HD gets some much needed remodeling which, includes storage of 64GB.

These prices are for the general public there is also rumors that there could be another price drop down the line. Google shopping still has the price of $240 and almost everywhere else. Not sure what this really means but we know that for Zune to compete with the iPod touch it has to be sold for $199. For now there is no time limit as to when this device will hit the market but for now the Microsoft Zune HD 64GB is the King of the castle until some other competitor produces Zune’s competition.

T-Mobile News At The CTIA 2010 – HSPA+ Network & Dell Netbook

T-Mobile News At The CTIA 2010 – HSPA+ Network & Dell Netbook

The International CTIA WIRELESS 2010(R) tradeshow and conference opened today, with attendees from around the world viewing the latest mobile innovations for 4G networks and hearing from the industry leaders who are driving the future of mobility

“4G is the dominant theme this year, with exhibitors, speakers and attendees talking about the power of the mobile network — and the ways it is affecting every aspect of our lives,” said Robert Mesirow, vice president and show director for CTIA. “From mobile money applications to mobile television, we’ll see innovative uses of wireless technology for business and personal life, and a range of new devices.”

With the focus on 4G – T-Mobile announced the launch of its new Dell netbook, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, which will be using T-Mobile’s new HSPA+ network. The network is still fresh, as it has only recently launched in Philadelphia and is now available in NYC and DC. The upgraded speeds will soon be ready in Los Angeles.

The Mini 10 features:

• 10.1″ glossy display


• Intel Atom N450 processor at 1.66 GHz


• Weighs 3 lbs


• 6-cell battery (8 hours of web surfing, or 11 hours standby)


• 1.3 MP webcam


• 3 USB ports


• Keyboard is 92% full-size


• Windows 7 Staters

Starting tomorrow the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 will be sold at T-Mobile stores in select cities (Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami) for $199.99 with 2-year contract.

Also announced by T-Mobile, the HTC HD2 will be for sale starting tomorrow for $199.99, in addition to the Nokia Nuron for $69.99, Moto CLIQ XT for $99.99, and WebConnect Rocket HSPA+ laptop card for $99.99.

Here is the full Press Release:

T-Mobile’s newest mobile broadband product, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, features built-in access to T-Mobile’s 3G network, Windows® 7 — Microsoft Corp.’s latest operating system — and the Intel® Atom™ processor N450 for easy Web surfing, instant messaging, e-mail, social networking, photo sharing and superb multimedia playback in one small, ultra-portable device. The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is small and lightweight, weighing just three pounds, and its integrated six-cell battery easily provides up to eight hours of continuous usage. The Dell Inspiron Mini 10 also comes preloaded with T-Mobile’s webConnect Manager software to help customers manage usage and connections, including connecting to T-Mobile’s 3G network, Wi-Fi and access to thousands of T-Mobile HotSpot network locat

LAS VEGAS & BELLEVUE, Wash. – (Business Wire) Today at International CTIA Wireless 2010, T-Mobile USA, Inc., showcased the nation’s fastest 3G wireless network on its latest mobile broadband devices. The company unveiled plans to upgrade its national high-speed 3G service to the High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) technology, which will deliver customers data speeds faster than the current 3G network technology1. By the end of 2010, T-Mobile expects to have HSPA+ deployed across the breadth of its 3G footprint, covering more than 100 metropolitan areas and 185 million people.

T-Mobile hosted live demonstrations of the home broadband-like HSPA+ data speeds on a variety of products including the new Dell™ Inspiron™ Mini 10 with T-Mobile® webConnect™ — T-Mobile’s first netbook — which launches March 24 online and in T-Mobile stores in select markets.2

“Consumers want a mobile broadband experience that’s easy and as good as their connection at home on the best wireless devices available,” said Neville Ray, senior vice president of engineering and operations for T-Mobile USA. “This year T-Mobile will upgrade its national 3G network to HSPA+ which will support faster speeds and give customers a superior wireless data experience when they access their mobile social network, stream videos or share content. T-Mobile’s network is primed to deliver the speeds that today’s data users crave.”

T-Mobile successfully launched its HSPA+ network service in Philadelphia last fall providing customers access to one of the fastest and most modern wireless networks in the U.S. T-Mobile now has made HSPA+ commercially available in new markets including major areas of New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and suburban Washington, D.C., with deployment in Los Angeles coming very soon.

The company will continue to aggressively expand the availability of HSPA+ in additional 3G markets, putting the necessary backhaul capacity in place to support the very fast speeds. Today, its 3G high-speed data network covers more than 206 million people.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is outperforming competing 3G wireless networks with speeds up to three times faster. Blazing fast actual peak download speeds3 were demonstrated today in Las Vegas using both new and current mobile broadband devices, including the T-Mobile webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick, the first HSPA+ capable device from a national U.S. wireless carrier; the Dell Inspiron Mini 10; the HTC HD2; the Motorola CLIQ XT™ and the T-Mobile myTouch® 3G.

“The webConnect Rocket and Dell Inspiron Mini 10 are the latest mobile broadband products that deliver real customer benefits with faster speeds available today,” said Cole Brodman, chief technology and innovation officer for T-Mobile USA. “And the great thing about T-Mobile’s 3G network evolution is its backward compatibility — most of our 3G smartphones will deliver a better mobile Web experience. Customers don’t have to spend money on a device upgrade, which is a rarity in consumer electronics.”

Apple iPad Alternatives

Apples iPad seems to be the talk of the town and the airwaves with pre-orders of the iPad, going on right now, and all the hype and excitement we were starting to think that this was the only touchscreen around. This is not the case there are a few touchscreens on the market right now and more to be released in the near future. There are options to the iPad you may want to check out the other touchscreen available before opening your wallet to Apple. The iPad isn’t the only bad boy in town. Sure, it might have a fancy interface, but each of the following seven tablets below won the hardware fight, which is just as important to lots of consumers.

The iPad has an advantage on all of these options because of the user-friendly iPhone interface, but it’s not like you’re dropping $600+ on a tablet for your parents, right?

Currently available

ModBook

The ModBook is the original Apple Tablet — besides the Newton of course. Except it’s not made by Apple proper, but rather Axiotron who has been making them since 2007. Prices start out at $899, but customers have to provide a pre-polycarbonate unibody Macbook making the total price closer to $2,000.

Advantages over the iPad

• Full OS X


• Multitasking


• Flash support


• Built-in camera


• Built-in optical drive


• 13.3-inch screen


• 120GB hard drive


• Windows compatibility

Disadvantages

• No 3G modem


• No multitouch


• No access to the App Store

Viliv X70

Viliv came out last year from South Korea and was introduced a round of sleek portables with the X70 heading up the tablets. This widescreen 7-inch tablet has nearly every piece of hardware missing from the iPad. Prices start out at $597.

Advantages over the iPad

• Windows


• Flash support


• Multitasking


• Unlocked 3G GSM modem


• GPS


• SD card slot


• Camera


• USB slot


• Haptic-feedback touchscreen


• Video out


• 128GB SSD

Disadvantages

• No multitouch


• No access to the App Store


• Only a 7-inch screen

Archos 9 PC tablet

Archos has been a major player in the MID market since it started. The Archos 9 PC Tablet is the company’s largest slate device to date. It also proves that Apple isn’t the only one to out beautiful looking devices. Prices start out at $549.

Advantages over the iPad

• Windows 7


• Flash Support


• Multitasking


• Two USB slots


• SD Card slot


• Webcam


• A kick stand


• Optical trackpad nub

Disadvantages

• No multitouch


• No access to the App Store

Upcoming

Viliv S10 Blade

The S10 Blade is Viliv’s first product of 2010, and it’s a looker. It has a 10-inch multitouch touchscreen in a convertible notebook setup that’s not much thicker than the iPad. The Viliv S10 is shipping soon at a starting price of $699.

Advantages over the iPad

• Windows 7


• Multitasking


• Flash support


• Unlocked 3G modem


• Webcam


• 2 USB ports


• SD card slot


• Video out

Disadvantages

• No access to the App Store

Notion Ink Adam

Notion Ink tablet news broke late last year and many chalked it up to a fanboy dream. But it’s real and supposed to be coming out this spring.

Advantages

• Android


• Multitasking


• Nvidia Tegra 2 platform


• 10-inch Dual-mode display (full color to ePaper)


• Rear-facing trackpad


• USB and HDMI ports


• Unlocked 3G modem

Tie

• Android Market to Apple’s App Store


• Multitouch

HP Slate

It wasn’t and only a few major players like HP and Dell showed off prototypes. Both of them took a different approach as the HP Slate (the unofficial name, btw) opts for a Windows with full flash support. It should hit the market this year at a rumored price of between $500-$600.

Advantages

• Windows 7


• Multitasking


• Flash support


• Camera


• USB ports

Disadvantages

• No access to the App Store


• No 3G modem (at least not yet)

Dell Streak

While HP decided to go with Windows, the 5-inch Dell Streak uses Android. The 5-inch Streak is clearly meant for a different market than the 9.7-inch iPad, but it’s also possible that we’ll see a larger version sometime soon, too. At least we hope we do.

Advantages

• Android


• Multitasking


• Front and rear facing cameras


• USB ports


• Dual microSD slots


• Rumored unlocked 3G modem

Tie

• Android Market for the App Store


• Neither support Flash

Disadvantages

• Smaller screen


• No 3G modem

These are seven good alternatives to those who despise Apple or want to be different from the crowd. What are your thoughts and opinions to some of these alternatives? If you feel we left a good alternative to Apple's iPad out, let us know. Share your thoughts and comments below.

Dell Planning a Big Release For Mini 5 Tablet

There is great Speculation that Dell has great plans for what’s to come following the release of the Mini 5. Though the Dell Mini 5 won’t be released for a least a month or so dell seems to be on top of their game.

The GM of Dell’s Neeraj Choubey said "There will be a family of tablets" which will "scale up to a variety of sizes." It appears there will be a common feature set throughout the forthcoming portfolio, so it's likely going to be Android all the way, while Choubey also shared his company's intention to bundle "inexpensive data plans" with the new devices - indicating a belief that carriers will agree to such ideas.

In the meantime confirmation is that Dell is working with AT&T on bringing this Mini to consumers, around the same time as the Apple's iPad, Notion Ink's ADAM, and HP Slate . It would be nice to have a release date but I guess we wait in anticipation.

AT&T On Board With Android

AT&T is one of the latest companies to dip into the Android market. According to recent reports the company plans to showcase five Android phones, with the Motorola’s Back flip being the first of many. Others include companies such as HTC, Dell and as you know Motorola.

It’s called the Back Flip for obvious reason it has the ability to flip back, with also a 3.1 inch touch screen,a display of 5 mega pixel camera with flash,a 1 inch touch sensitive swatch on the back which you can double tap like an iphone. Rumor has it that this device will also run Moto Blur a design that was introduce to consumers last year through Cliq. MotoBlur also has services like free phone backup online and a find-my-phone service.

Like many of the SmartPhones out there, this device also offers access to Social networking sites Twitter, and Facebook, to name a few. Check out the video below:

Expect this device to be on AT&T shelves on March 7 with a price tag of $100 with a two year contract.

HP Slate - Video Walkthrough, and Pricing Strategy

There is nothing better than some competition between companies!

The Wallstreet Journal reports companies such as Notion Ink, Dell, and Acer are reportedly all developing iPad competitors in one form or another. However HP is looking at undercutting the iPad on pricing as a significant component to that strategy.

Even though HP's Slate was briefly demoed at CES in Vegas a few weeks before Apple announced the iPad, HP is being quiet about the details on the specs and pricing of the device and was waiting for Apple to release the iPad so they could make adjustments to respond competitively. HP CTO Phil McKinney has been very friendly to share some of the history behind the development of the new announced tablet, which is set for a release this year.

Executives from HP will be meeting in the U.S. and Taiwan to tweak the prices and features on the upcoming  Slate. HP has discussed selling a version of the Slate similar to the iPad in size and features, and including a cellular connection for a price below the $629 Apple charges for an equivalent iPad, one of these people said.

Windows Phone 7, Details Leaked

As rumored, Microsoft officially announced Windows Phone 7 Series at MWC 2010, the latest iteration of the Microsoft’s mobile platform.

For the first time, the OS previously known as Windows Mobile, has seen a complete overhaul from the user interface to the concept behind the OS. This is not your typical Windows Mobile phone but is more like the Zune HD on steroids.

Some the hightlights of the new OS as well as hardware requirements include:

• High resolution, capacitive, multitouch display with gestures that are similar to those in Windows 7 PC operating system
• Each handset will have the same three dedicated buttons: start, Bing search, back button
• UI is touch-friendly throughout the entire OS, no stylus is needed
• Personal and business information is integrated on the handset, emphasis on the dual function of the handset as a personal and business device
• New scrolling, tile based interface for the start screen that dynamically displays updated content and can be customized to display the tiles relevant to each user
• Phone/address auto-detection that links to dialer and map application
• Application bar at the bottom of each application that gives the user quick access to the most used functions within an application
• Bing search with geo-location to provide local results, directions, and business/restaurant reviews
• Focus on efficiency that minimizes the number of touches to perform actions
• Web browser is based upon desktop Internet Explorer code with improved text rendering technology to make web browsing easier
• Focus on the phone as an integrated device with different experiences organized into seven core hubs including -

                        o people (social networking integration)

                        o pictures (view/share pictures between phone, desktop, and social networks)

                        o games (Xbox live games and service)

                        o music + video (Zune)

                        o marketplace (application store)

                        o office/productivity (Sharepoint/Exchange support)

• Tighter control over the phones with a minimum hardware definition for handsets to provide a consistent design experience for the user while allowing manufacturers and operators some flexibility to customize the handsets without changing the underlying core
• Windows Live service integration
• No Adobe Flash support in version 1 of the OS
• Close partnership with AT&T and Orange

Several handset manufacturers and mobile operators have jumped on board the Windows Phone 7 including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Orange, SFR, Sprint, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telstra, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless, Vodafone, Dell, Garmin-Asus, HTC, HP, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Qualcomm. Additional details on Windows Phone 7 series application development will be revealed at the MIX10 conference in March. The first Windows 7 phones will be available by holiday 2010.

Alienware's M15x and M17x Available to Order, Equipped with Core i7

The upper-end models of Alienware's laptop line are now finally ready to be ordered by the general public. The M15x is now available with a Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7 process along with your choice of a 512MB NVIDIA GeForceGT 240M or 1GB GeForece GTX 260M, a 1,600 x 900 or 1,920 x 1080 15.6-inch WLED panel, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 250GB HDD (upgradable to SSD for those who want to shell out more money), and plenty of bright lights. The M17x can be ordered with a Core i7-920XM processor, dual 1GB GeForce GTX 280M GPUs (or a pair of Radeon Mobility HD 4870s), and everything else you can think of. The M15x has a base price of $1,199 and the M17x has a base price of $1,799. Lets see how sales go for the new Alienware lineup.

23-inch OptX AW2310 1080p 3D Monitor, Now Being Shipped by Alienware

Along with Alienware's new laptop line being shipped, this new monitor which is the firm's first-ever 3D monitor is now also being shipped. Shipping into the market with 23-inches and boasting a full 1080p panel, the monitor also has a 3 millisecond response time, a 120 Hz refresh rate and stereoscopic support when the NVIDIA's GeForce 3D Vision Kit is utilized. The price is said to be $469, but the 3D kit will cost another $200 on top of that. The 3D monitor is a new and cool concept now but not affordable for everyone to buy and not utilized by many companies just yet, but hopefully in time this will end up in everyone's household to enhance to experience of entertainment.

Alienware's New Netbook Given A Pricetag

At CES, Alienware announced what seemed to be a net-book that would launch in Spring for less than $1,000. The starting base price was confirmed to be $799. The starting MSRP of Alienware's M11x was delivered by the company's own website in an indirect source. If you go to the M11x microsite and view the source, this code will be found:

The Alienware M11x, with over 6.5 hours of battery life and weighing under 4.5 lbs. will start at an amazing $799! Leave it to the folks at Alienware to enable truly mobile performance gaming at an affordable price.

How many of you are interested in the new unique design, an 11.6 inch display, NVIDIA GT355M switchable graphics and 6.5 hour battery with a $799 price tag?

Dell Mini 5

If the last week was any indication, 2010 will definitely be the year of the tablet, and the Dell Mini 5 ($TBA) looks to be a solid option amongst the sea of upcoming slates. Rocking a five-inch multitouch screen, five-megapixel rear and webcam-quality front facing cameras, a built-in SIM card option, Wi-Fi, an included headset, and Android OS, it will be blurring the lines between phone and computer later this year.

Specs that we know: custom Android, SIM (it makes calls), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. And the 5-inch screen supports full multitouch.
In your hand, it's very light and comfortable to use. The screen is responsive, and Dell's icon interface makes for intuitive presentation of Android.
It feels a bit more like plastic than, say, the iPod touch. But it was perfectly solid from what we could tell. Making a phone call turns the Mini 5 into a gigantic phone, almost like a handset out of a Carrot Top routine, but Dell expects most consumers will opt to use a headset.
The unexpectedly awesome feature? The 5MP camera. The Dell Mini 5 has a 5-inch screen, and your subject fills the entire frame. It's an oddly satisfying implementation of a camera, in a super sizing kind of way.

New things from Dell: Tablets, phones, laptops

Not to be left out of the deluge of new releases at CES, Dell is giving us a sneak peak at their new 5-inch tablet concept and Android-smartphone for AT&T. There’s also some new laptops and things, you know, if you’re into that.

Unfortunately, these pictures are about all we have on the tablet concept so far. The 5.0 megapixel camera is visible on the back, and I feel safe assuming multi-touch support.

The Mini 3 smartphone is going to be one of AT&T’s first Android-based devices. No word yet on specifications, and availability has only been said to be “the first half of 2010.” You can find the full press release here.

Now laptop time. We’ll start with the Alienware M11x, aptly named for the 11 inch screen size. The primary selling point seems to be that it is a gaming laptop, smaller than 12 in. No word on any concrete specs, but who would want to be playing games on such a small form-factor? Not me. I take my Diablo 3 Fallout 3 straight, thank you very much. The photo gallery seems to show a FireWire 400 port, card reader, eSATA, HDMI out, ethernet, and wait a minute, a VGA port? Really? No word on a street date, but its supposed to be less than a thousand bucks.