Don't underestimate tablets – one day they'll take over the world

The future is (still) coming

There's a very good reason why many people think tablets aren't long for this world: sales are falling. In 2015, technology market analysts IDC said tablet sales would fall by 8%, followed by another drop in 2016 before - perhaps - recovering in 2017.

On the face of it that's bad news, because the tablet market is really only seven or so years old at most. It took PC sales a lot longer to stagnate in quite such a dramatic fashion.

But it's not all doom and gloom. Apple keeps rebooting its iPads into more functional devices. Samsung is continuing apace with its Tab range. Google has started to manufacture its own hardware.

Sales might not be booming, but large numbers of tablets have already been sold - and, the present slowdown notwithstanding, many more will be sold in the future. Such is the potential of the platform, that maybe the form factor isn't going anywhere.

So what, actually, is the future of the tablet?

The short-term leader

If you're wondering which brand will be at the forefront of the near-future tablet push you don't have to look far. Apple will continue to sell loads of iPads, although, as we've seen, even it's not immune to the slowdown in sales. Samsung, meanwhile, will maintain its presence in the tablet market - although it's fair to suspect this isn't a big focus for the company - as it continues to improve its Tab S range (and they're not too shabby at the moment).

Apple's roaring success with the iPad isn't hard to fathom: riding the wave of users being into 'an Apple thing' and combining it with a dizzyingly well-stocked App Store, the Cupertino slate offers a lot - and the price premium that iPads command over the competition doesn't appear to put many people off. There's a luxury element to the brand that continues to draw people in.

But there's a thriving budget tablet market too, with Amazon proving there's an appetite for very cheap tablets. According to IDC, the company's tablet sales jumped 175.7% year-on-year from Q4 2014 to Q4 2015, almost certainly thanks to its £50 (US$50, AU$98) tablet.

It seems that, as with smartphones, there's no real middle in the tablet market, just a cheap end and a premium end.

Apple and Samsung don't agree

What's interesting is that while the average consumer might look at dwindling numbers and think tablets are dead, the big brands think we're just at the beginning. A spokesperson for Samsung told TechRadar: "The tablet is still a relatively young product, but the segment has developed and matured rapidly.

"Tablets were once talked about as replacement devices for other products, but we see their real value as products that complement existing devices and provide easier ways to connect, consume and create during 'in-between' time, such as the morning commute, note-taking in a meeting or 'second-screening' during your evening downtime."

So Samsung doesn't think the tablet will replace your TV/computer/phone/dog any time soon; instead these are additional devices to keep us entertained.

Maybe it's a sign of the times - apparently people can't endure even a moment of boredom, and need a tablet on-hand while they watch TV - but it's a sign that points to enduring demand for slates.

Apple's Phil Schiller, on the other hand, said in March this year (when talking about its continued investment in the iPad line and rebooting it to the new accessories-laden Pro range), "This is the way we think that personal computing is going." Evidence of the faith Apple has in iOS as a powerful enough operating system to take on laptops.

The inflection point for old PCs being replaced by laptops is the space Apple is aiming at, targeting those who realise they don't really need a laptop for anything more than entertainment and browsing, which is where the tablet is so strong. By adding in a keyboard and split screen view, the Cupertino brand clearly thinks there's a customer base to be targeted.

And then you've got the business case: make a device attractive to companies, and you've got millions upon millions of potential users - and with scale comes development, which filters into consumer devices too.

Hardened screens? Extra power? More input devices? All come from requests in the business world, and it's not hard to imagine that Apple will even find a way to bring a mouse-like sensitive input device to the iPad one day (although you could argue that the Pencil is along these lines).

What about Microsoft?

Let's deal with the elephant in the room: Microsoft doesn't make real tablets. When it killed off the Surface RT, which used the same basic idea of a mobile chip that Samsung and Apple use in their tablets, it clearly decided that the world didn't fancy Windows in a slate-only scenario.

There are a number of tablet-only Windows devices out there, but these are largely at the low, low end of the price scale, and aren't selling in the volumes of the high-end devices that capture the imagination around present-giving time. Windows has struggled on the tablet form factor because it's simply not been conducive to the feel of the finger... it loves a separate input.

But things don't actually look bad for Microsoft. Statista predicts that the company's share will rise over the next few years, from just 3.5% in 2013 to 18% in 2019. Apple's iOS has pretty much held a 25% share of the market since it exploded with the first iPad, so will Microsoft eat into Android's share, or that of iOS?

It seems likely that Apple will remain king in the home, but the business market will be more of a keenly contested battleground.

And more good news for Microsoft, despite it not having a 'real' tablet, is that the Surface Pro 3 and Pro 4 have been big successes indeed. What Microsoft has done here, however, is take a standard laptop, and hammer all the bits onto a detachable touchscreen.

This isn't the (short-term) future of tablets - it's the way laptops are going. People want the portability of the tablet but the power of the laptop, and Microsoft has done a good job of combining these two requirements in a way that hits the mark in terms of productivity.

And this is where the Pro 4 and the iPad Pro differ: the Microsoft device is great for working and good enough for entertainment, while the iPad Pro is a brilliant entertainment device with the ability to offer some work-related skills when needed - and that's the distinction between genuine 2-in-1 devices and tablets at the moment.

What's holding back tablets?

One of the big things holding tablets back is the usability of software. An example: many people want to edit videos in Adobe Premiere, and it's just not as easy on a tablet as on a keyboard-and-mouse device.

This is a factor that's pulling people towards Microsoft's Surface Pro 4, which offers a full desktop environment on the go.

App developers need to start creating more powerful software for the tablet platform to help the market become re-energised - and in fairness, things are improving as more premium input devices become available.

Combine that with enough power to rival many laptops - and even some gaming machines - and you can see that tablets are ready to take on the gaming mantle.

In another six years (the same period as since the launch of the first iPad) we'll have 5G connectivity, giving you the speed to even play high-end games remotely using the stunning screen in your bag.

IDC suggests it'll be the Surface-style 2-in-1 devices which will be the big winners by 2020. It predicts that devices with a laptop form factor option, but from which the screen can be detached, will grow in number from 6.6 million in 2015 to 63.8 million in 2020; future advances will make the tablet part much more lightweight, while the keyboard base keeps a lot more of the power.

Something else that augurs well for the future of the tablet is the rise of smart home technology, with your slate - a silent, fanless machine of the future - enabling you to control your heating and lighting with an ease that's not possible with a desktop-bound machine, or a laptop that has to be placed on a lap or other surface.

While phones also offer this portability, the tablet is a device that all the family can easily share - making the slate, rather than the smartphone, the true engine of your connect home.

So what IS the future?

For some people the tablet is already usurping the PC. Kids don't sit down at computers as much as they used to, but they can use tablets with ease; many schools have racks of iPads or Android tablets.

This is important, because if the school your kids go to offers iPads in a learning environment, then your children could soon be coders too - Apple's new Swift Playgrounds package its Swift programming language in a way that will teach children how to code, as do services like CodeAcademy. Such initiatives could become a part of the curriculum, and tablet devices will be a key part of that - touchscreens are clearly a big part the future of computing.

The future of tablets is clearly based on devices that offer multiple need-over-luxury reasons for purchase.

The iPad Pro and Surface Pro are very different devices. Both have mid-range laptop price tags and offer a lot of functionality that normal tablets don't have, but they approach the problem of 'what is a tablet?' from very different perspectives.

Apple positions the iPad, especially in its Pro variant, as a machine that can replicate many of the functions of a laptop. Many have found that high-end devices like iPads, the Google Pixel C, the Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet or the Galaxy Tab range are a more than adequate alternative for computers.

The success of the Surface Pro, meanwhile, is partly down to an excellent accessories ecosystem, with a strong keyboard and pen combined with huge amounts of power - it's a great laptop that can function well as a screen. But as long as Windows isn't as touch-friendly as the iPads, the Surface Pro can't be seen as a real tablet device.

The IDC predictions suggest that the Surface Pro inhabits a new world of more versatile laptops that have a tablet component to them, but will need to evolve before it can be considered a true alternative to more conventional tablets.

It's certainly true to say that tablet sales are slowing across the board. This isn't surprising in some ways because the form factor is still in its infancy, and many of the tablets sold in the last couple of years are still performing well for the people using them - especially if, as Samsung says, people are using them predominantly as second screens.

Tablets aren't becoming obsolete as quickly as other gadgets, and there isn't the impetus to replace them that smartphone contracts create. They're also still a luxury item, according to Samsung, and so sales figures remain subject to fluctuations in the economy.

To encourage upgrades Apple, Samsung, Sony and others are augmenting new devices with bundles of power, keyboards and mouse inputs - and they'll also need to keep developing the software to make it both finger friendly and powerful enough to enable slates to function as a desktop and laptop replacement devices.

You're more likely to upgrade your iPad 2 if whatever you upgrade to can replace your laptop too. And when brands solve the issue of being able to input with a finger and mouse equally well, and deliver a steady stream of brilliant and powerful apps to replace desktop software, then we'll see tablet sales start spiralling upwards.

Source: Don't underestimate tablets – one day they'll take over the world

Books, the original tablet, can make summer fun

It's a book. It just sits there. It doesn't do anything but collect dust on the shelf. It's the reader who brings it to life. And that's the point.

And that's the problem, too, for young readers who are used to interactive devices, games and videos at the finger-tip, animation and music and YouTube and all the rest of it. In comparison, a book can look lifeless and dull, a small rectangle that doesn't even plug in or make dinging noises.

A youth services librarian at the downtown branch of the public library explains the problem. Even very young children are used to computers (and there are rows of them in the children's section). One young visitor to the library swiped his small hand across the book his mother checked out for him and was surprised when nothing happened.  

He thought it must be broken.

So what can be done to keep children reading through the summer months, when "Summer Slide" takes over and kids who sit in front of cartoons forget about characters and plot and how words make paragraph and paragraphs stack up into stories. They can lose months of reading ability, making it hard to catch up in the fall. Once upon a time, parents didn't have to compete with Frozen and cute cat videos and Spider-Man. Now they do. 

The library's reading programs, available at all 12 branches and free to anyone with a library card (and cards are free), gives parents handouts about the importance of reading to children, singing songs and making rhymes, and joining the summer reading club for kids up to fifth grade. 

There are crafts and science clubs and "book buddy" programs. At some branches, the Alabama Youth Ballet demonstrates dance techniques; Rise Raptor project brings Curt Cearly and his owl, Maximus for a close-up look at birds of prey, and the Huntsville Drum Line marches through the library making a joyful noise. Alexander's Martial Arts promotes confidence, motor skills, and self-discipline. 

There are Lego League Robotics and Minecraft activities. And, lest we forget, all those books.

While the library hands out book logs to readers who list the books they've read, some families have their own. Sparkman High School teacher Nekeysha Jones gave her girls, Melanie, age 7, and Breanna, age 9, summer reading journals a few years ago. They're free to read the books they want to read, not just the ones their parents say they should read.

Though the girls have iPads and Kindle Fire and computers, reading time is the norm in their household. The sisters set timers for 30 minutes each day and retreat to their reading nook, sometimes with their mother, who reads with them. They might discuss what they've read.

They log in the name of the author and the book in their journals, and write something about their favorite chapter. Then they go to the library every two weeks for new books, and the process starts again.

For young children, Jones suggests setting a timer for 10 minutes. For reluctant readers, there's a website called www.storylineonline.net.

In her life as a parent and her life as an educator, Jones uses two phrases with her daughters and her students:  "Readers are Leaders" and "Children who read become adults who think."

On July 23 from 4-7 pm, the library will hold a field day in Big Spring Park to celebrate Summer Reading and the children who've been part of it. Jones hopes to be there. 

For more information, contact hmcpl.org or call 256-532-5940.

Source: Books, the original tablet, can make summer fun

Huawei MateBook 2-in-1 first impressions: iPad quality, but with the added bonus of Windows 10

Huawei MateBook

The Huawei MateBook represents a lot of firsts for the Chinese hardware manufacturer. Not only is it the company's first Windows 10 powered notebook, but also its first 2-in-1.

With that in mind, I came to the MateBook with no preconceived notions whatsoever. Yes, Huawei has a reputation for making some solid smartphones - the P9 is a solid device - but portables are a different animal.

Here are my first impressions of the MateBook and its accessories after about 15 hours of usage.

The MateBook

The device is built around a 12-inch 2160 x 1440 IPS LCD display with 10-point multitouch support outputting crisp and sharp text and images. Surrounding the display is a 10mm ultra-thin bezel, which means that the device boasts an 84 percent screen-to-body ratio, but despite the narrow bezel, I had no problems handling the device without triggering spurious screen touches.

The display is set in a smooth and sleek aluminum chassis with a darkened brushed finish, and the rounded corners and chamfering, which not only looks good but makes it more comfortable to hold for extended periods. There are no sharp edges, and protuberances such as the on/off switch and the volume rocker buttons are nicely machined and beautifully finished.

On the inside, you get the option of Intel Core M3, M5, or M7 processors, 4 or 8 gigabytes of RAM, and SSD storage options ranging from 128 gigabytes to 512 gigabytes.

All this is powered by a 33.7Wh Lithium Ion battery pack, rechargeable using a supplied USB-C fast-charge power adapter, which is enough to get it through a typical day. Huawei claims that the battery is good for 9 hours of Microsoft Office use or video playback, and 29 hours of music playback.

Right out of the box the MateBook oozes quality. The fit and finish is second to none and the 640g package feels flawless in the hand. To me it feels no bigger than a 9.7-inch iPad, and yet I'm getting all the benefits of a 12-inch display. True, the iPad has a better display on the pixel level, but unless I'm peering real close, I don't feel the difference.

Apart from the dock connector, the MateBook features a single USB-C port which handles both charging and connectivity. But don't worry if you don't have any USB-C peripherals just yet because not only does the tablet comes with a dongle you can use, but there's also an optional dock (more on that in a bit).

Despite only being kitted out with an Intel Core M3 processor and 4 gigabytes of RAM, the MateBook feels nice and responsive. I understand that this is no powerhouse system, and that I'm not going to be playing Crysis on it, but as a mobile platform to get work done on it, it's worked flawlessly out of the box.

To me it feels like the iPad that I stopped using a few years ago, only much better. It's a quality tablet with a balanced hardware spec, but it offers the advantage of running Windows 10.

One hardware feature of the MateBook that I've grown to love is the fingerprint reader that's nestled between the volume rocker buttons. Having the fingerprint reader on the side of the device rather than on the front makes a lot more sense, and it makes unlocking the device so quick and easy that I wonder why other manufacturers haven't done this before. It's so nice and smooth and logical that it makes Apple's Touch ID sensor feel awkwardly placed.

I like the MateBook. A lot. It feels like Huawei has taken the long hard look at the iPad, figured out its strong points (the design, the weight, the overall fit and finish) and then added improvements of its own to it (such as the ultra-thin bezel and fingerprint reader).

For me, this is the closest thing to having an iPad that runs Windows.

The MatePen

Now, as most regular readers will know, I'm no fan of the stylus for general day-to-day use. I find them clumsy and awkward, and much rather use the meat nugget that's at the end of my hand for driving touchscreens.

That said, the MatePen works well. I've had no problems with connectivity and accuracy and the 2048-level pressure sensitivity seems very smooth and precise. And on the chewing end of the stylus is a laser pointer, which my cat seems to enjoy quite a bit.

It's a shame that there's no way to keep the MateBook and MatePen together physically, and that probably means I'm going to lose it pretty soon. I'm also not that keen on having to split the pen into two for charging - giving me two pieces to lose instead of one - but according to the specs I should only need to do that every 100 hours of use, so all is not lost.

The MateBook Portfolio Keyboard

The portfolio keyboard feels like the final design is a compromise. It's small and lightweight, only adding 450g to the tablet.

The magnets that connect the keyboard to the tablet are nice and positive, and it's not at all fiddly to attach and detach the keyboard from the tablet. I also like the spill-proof design, and the backlit keys are a nice touch, and work really well in low-light (although there is a bit of light spill from along the bottom of the keyboard.

I also like the glass touchpad, which, as far as such touchpads go, is OK (just don't expect the sort of performance that you get from a MacBook touchpad).

But...

The whole package feels floppy and a bit cheap, and unless you're using it on a hard surface then expect to be frustrated no only by the tablet folding on you, but also by the way the keyboard caves in when you type on it. I think you could work with this on your lap, but I think it all depends on your patience (and I certainly don't have that sort of patience).

That said, these are complaints that can be leveled at most "portfolio-style" keyboards, but given the quality of the MateBook, I'd have expected Huawei to have maybe given it a little more thought and come up with a keyboard that's of similar quality to the tablet it attaches to.

The MateDock

Finally, the dock.

What can I say about this other than it's a dock that features two USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet, HDMI, and a VGA port to allow the MateBook to be hooked up to a variety of peripherals. The dock comes in a case that has a loop to hold the MatePen and storage slots for cables.

The dock does what is says on the tin, and whether you want on or not depends on how you plan on using your MateBook.

Final thoughts

I have to say that I like the MateBook a lot. The build quality is good, and it works pretty much right out of the box. If you like the iPad but wish it could run Windows 10, then this is the device for you.

The downside is that pricing is a lot higher than you'd expect for an iPad, but this has to be balanced out against the increased storage capacity.

It's swings and roundabouts.

Compared to other 2-in-1s, again, it depends on what floats your particular board. I like the display and the ultra-thin bezel, and I've really bonded with the fingerprint reader placement on the device (it feels so logical). That said, for some, the lack of a built-in full-sized USB 3.0 port and the reliance on a separate dock for anything beyond USB-C may be a deal-breaker.

As for the peripherals, the MatePen is good, the MateDock does what it says it's supposed to do, and the portfolio keyboard feels like a compromise and could, in mu opinion, do with being made a little more robust.

Pricing

According to Huawei the MateBook and its accessories will be sold in a variety of different bundles later this year, with prices ranging from $699 to $1,599 for the MateBook itself.

The optional keyboard, stylus, and dock will be priced at $129, $59, and $89, respectively.

See also:

Source: Huawei MateBook 2-in-1 first impressions: iPad quality, but with the added bonus of Windows 10

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Source: Review: The Huawei MateBook has class, but lacks a few features

EMA: Posaconazole Tablet, Oral Suspension Not Interchangeable

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has warned that the tablet and oral suspension forms of posaconazole (Noxafil, Merck) are not interchangeable because they have different doses, and prescriptions should specify which dose form is intended. The company will update its product information to strengthen this warning and change the packaging to distinguish the two forms more clearly.

Posaconazole is a medication belonging to the triazole antifungal group. It is used to treat the serious fungal infections invasive aspergillosis, fusariosis, chromoblastomycosis, mycetoma, or coccidioidomycosis when other medications cannot be used or are infective. It is also used to treat thrush or prevent invasive fungal infections in patients with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients).

It is available in a tablet form containing 100 mg and an oral suspension containing 40 mg/mL; however, the two forms have different recommended doses. The usual dose of the tablet form is three tablets (300 mg) twice daily on the first day, followed by 300 mg once daily. The usual dose of the liquid form (200 mg, 5 mL) is taken three or four times daily. Posaconazole is also available as a solution for intravenous use.

Some patients mistakenly have received the oral solution instead of tablets, and this has led to underdosing and potential ineffectiveness. Other patients have received tablets instead of the oral solution, and this has led to overdosage and adverse effects.

A letter will be sent to healthcare professionals to remind them of the problem. Prescribers should specify the dosage form and the relevant dose on the prescription, and pharmacists should ensure that the correct oral dosage form is dispensed.

Patients are instructed not to switch between the forms without talking to their physician or pharmacist first.

The committee conducted the review in the context of a type II variation procedure. The committee's opinion will go next to the European Commission for a legally binding decision that will be applicable in all European Union Member States.

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Cite this article: EMA: Posaconazole Tablet, Oral Suspension Not Interchangeable. Medscape. Jun 28, 2016.

Source: EMA: Posaconazole Tablet, Oral Suspension Not Interchangeable

Buyer’s guide to tablet keyboards

On the face of it, a 2-in-1 laptop makes sense. You get the convenience of a tablet plus the keyboard and other benefits of a notebook. But there are drawbacks.

While some high-end models like the Microsoft Surface Book are excellent, budget hybrids can be underpowered. Weight is another issue. Fold-back designs mean you're holding the full weight of a laptop, which soon becomes a problem if you use it as a tablet while standing.

Hybrids with a detachable keyboard are lighter and more feasible to use as a tablet, but size is often still an issue. A good screen size for a tablet is on the small side for a notebook, so hybrids tend to be a compromise either as a tablet or a notebook.

They're still a lot more flexible than a regular notebook, but if you intend to use the device mainly as a tablet there is a third way – buy a physical keyboard for your tablet.

An onscreen keyboard is fine for dashing off short messages, but it's less than ideal for composing longer pieces of prose. An accessory keyboard adds a little extra thickness and weight to a tablet, but can make text entry more convenient. Since some designs include a trackpad, they effectively turn a tablet – especially a 10-inch or larger model running Windows 10 – into a hybrid laptop.

Such a combination isn't necessarily low end – the HP Elite x2 1012 G1 tablet retails for $2,443 and could well be regarded as a hybrid with a notebook-style keyboard as an optional extra (for $399).

The HP Elite x2 1012 G1 tablet and keyboard

Tablet keyboards fall into two main categories, each with its pros and cons.

Keyboard covers

Perhaps the most convenient are keyboard covers. Some resemble conventional covers in that they attach (often magnetically) to the tablet and hinge open much like a notebook. A good example is Microsoft's Type Cover ($199.95) for the Surface Pro.

One problem with this arrangement is that the combination is top-heavy and in some situations (like when it's on your lap) it tends to fall backwards when you touch the screen – though that doesn't apply to the Surface thanks to its kickstand design.

Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard Folio for the Samsung Galaxy Tab

Others resemble a folio-style case, with a keyboard built into the inner surface of the cover. Examples include Apple's Smart Keyboard (from $229) for iPad and iPad Pro, or Logitech's Ultrathin Keyboard Folio for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 10.1 ($129.95).

This style is generally quite stable in use but has limited or no adjustability, which can be an issue if you're relatively tall or working in cramped surroundings such as an economy seat on a flight. But there are some exceptions, such as the Targus Versavu for iPad Air ($70), with its slider system for adjusting the screen angle.

The Targus Versavu for iPad Air

And there are some that instead of being hinged, clip over the tablet's screen when not in use. This can make them relatively fiddly to use, and setting up and packing away is almost certainly less convenient that either of the other two cover styles. On the other hand, some designs – for example, the Logitech Ultrathin for iPad Air 2 ($129.95) – allow the angle of the screen to be adjusted to suit the user. Again, beware of units that topple away from you when you touch the top of the screen.

Stand-alone keyboards

Then there are the stand-alone keyboards. The big advantage is that the same keyboard may work with your next tablet. And some, such as Logitech's Multi-Device keyboard ($69.95), are designed to work with both iOS and Android devices – and even Windows and OS X.

Logitech's Multi-Device keyboard

The downside is that a standalone keyboard is an additional item to carry around – and to remember to put back into your bag after use. You'll probably still want a screen cover, but a completely separate keyboard is arguably the most convenient when you're using the tablet on its own.

What to look for

Whichever style of keyboard you buy, there are some general considerations to take into account.

First of all, you're almost certainly buying a keyboard because you don't like typing directly on the tablet's screen. So we strongly recommend trying the keyboard before buying it. That could be by using a friend or colleague's keyboard, or by visiting a shop that has various models on display.

Apart from the feel of the keys (most have a short stroke that might not be comfortable for you), consider the size and spacing – the closer they are to the keyboard of your desktop or notebook, the happier you'll probably be.

Also think about how the keyboard is powered. The most common arrangement is an internal battery with a micro USB charging connector. Among the exceptions is the Apple Smart Keyboard which draws its power from the iPad.

And remember that bells and whistles such as keyboard backlighting will reduce the amount of work you can do from a single charge (all else being equal).

Connectivity options

There's also the issue of how the keyboard connects (in the functional rather than physical sense) with the tablet. Bluetooth is most common, and the pairing issues that got this interface a bad name in the early days have been long overcome. But in the case of a standalone keyboard, a little extra finesse is needed to conveniently swap between devices.

The Logitech Multi-Device keyboard solves this by pairing with up to three devices at a time, switching between then at the touch of a button. Designs like the Apple Smart Keyboard connect electrically as well as mechanically, so there's no need for pairing.

Finally, remember that a tablet plus a keyboard isn't always the cheapest option. If you really need a notebook, buy a good notebook or 2-in-1 laptop. But if you like the way tablets work except for the times when you need to type more than a few sentences, an accessory keyboard can be a good choice.

Source: Buyer's guide to tablet keyboards

7 Reasons Why You Don’t Need a Tablet Anymore

It's been over six years since Steve Jobs introduced the world to the iPad. Since then, we have seen tablets running all kinds of operating systems, tablets of different sizes, and tablets at various price points. But the big question is, do you really need a tablet anymore?

Research firm IDC's recent study shows that tablet sales are on the decline worldwide. Early adopters of tablets often talk about how little use they have for these devices any more. For several, their tablets sit on the coffee table in the same position for days.

So before you put down hard-earned cash for a new tablet, ask yourself if you really need it. Here are a few reasons you might want to skip it for something else.

1. Phone Screens Are Getting Bigger

Tablets usually come in 7-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch screen sizes. But recently, smartphones have also been getting bigger.

From fantastic Android phablets to the Plus series of iPhones, when your smartphone has a 5.5-inch screen, your need for a bigger touchscreen device pretty much becomes non-existent except in the most specific of cases.

Since your phone is with you all the time, you end up using it a lot more than a tablet too. More and more, you get comfortable using it. Your muscle memory builds up, you get used to how apps work, you know the speed at which it will perform certain tasks  — all of this comes together to make the phone "faster" for you than a tablet.

Plus, tablets don't support all the same apps that phones do. For example, if you use WhatsApp, you can't use it simultaneously on your tablet and mobile, even with WhatsApp Web mirroring the messages.

A faster device, a big screen, and one-handed operation? If you thought the tablet can be a "bigger and better phone", you're wrong. Tablets are starting to lose in the one area where they used to dominate phones.

2. Laptops Are Getting Lighter

The big change in the world of laptops recently is their shrinking in size and weight. Manufacturers are trending towards notebooks with 11- to 13-inch screens that focus on being lightweight.

And that used to be the big advantage of tablets.

For a few years, it made more sense to carry a tablet with you when you're moving around because a laptop was too big, bulky, and weighed down your bag. But modern, lightweight, small-size laptops make it easy to carry them no matter where you go.

Let's face it, when you're on the go, you will always carry your smartphone with you, so the second device is the one you have to decide. Do you want a tablet, which has the same apps and restrictions as your smartphone, or do you want a laptop, which has a keyboard and a full-fledged desktop operating system?

The choice is pretty clear.

3. Battery Life Isn't an Issue

Even now, tablets have longer battery life than laptops or smartphones, but the question isn't, "Which of these lasts the longest?" The question is, "Which one do I actually need?"

The MacBook Air, which is the best value-for-money laptop right now, lasts for about 10 hours of work on a single charge. That's plenty for most users, who will be able to get to a charger before that gets close to running out.

As for smartphones, these days they're packing upwards of 3,000 mAh batteries, and with technologies like Quick Charging, it makes your battery problems even less of a worry.

So yes, while tablets do last longer, ask yourself if you are likely to actually need that kind of battery life when you can find a place to charge your notebook or phone almost anywhere. When's the last time you were more than 10 hours away from an outlet?

Worst case scenario, don't forget that backup battery packs exist too.

4. 2-in-1 Laptops, Best of Both Worlds

Apart from big-screen phones and lightweight laptops, one other recent trend is most indicative of whether you need a tablet or not. As IDC found for two quarters in a row, while tablet sales are shrinking, sales are growing for 2-in-1 tablets that mimic PCs.

From the Microsoft Surface to iPad Pro, people are buying tablets that come with a detachable keyboard because they can be replacements for PCs or laptops. Tablets have one big problem right now, which is writing and input. As good as virtual keyboards and touch gestures are, they still don't match up to a physical keyboard and mouse or trackpad for pinpoint accuracy and speed.

More importantly, 2-in-1s give you the best of both worlds. A tablet that can be used as a tablet, and a laptop that can be used as a laptop, both shifting into their own roles as required.

5. E-Readers > Tablets for Ebooks

If the primary use of your tablet is going to be to read ebooks, you need to rethink this. E-readers are better for your eyes due to e-ink, can store all the ebooks you could ever need at a time, and are much lighter and therefore more comfortable.

In fact, the lightness of e-readers matters a lot. You are going to hold this device in your hand for a long time as you flip through the pages, and even 7-inch tablets are heavy enough that your arm will feel strained after a few minutes. That's not the case with most e-readers.

In fact, a Kindle will get you to read more, so if you're a bibliophile, forget about using a tablet. The one exception to this rule is when reading comics, for which tablets are still better than e-readers.

6. Tablet Gaming Is Disappointing

A bigger screen does make it more pleasant to play games like Infinity Blade 3 or Dead Trigger. If you're a serious gamer, then getting a tablet to play games makes sense.

But if you're a serious gamer, ask yourself if you are going to enjoy tablet games over a PS4, Xbox, or a better graphics card for your PC. Unless you're already covered with all your other gaming needs, your money will probably be better spent elsewhere.

For casual gamers, buying a tablet for the games alone isn't the best option. Games like Candy Crush and Angry Birds are no more enjoyable on an iPad than on a smartphone. There are some games so beautiful you'll forget they're played on phones.

So if you have a big-screen phone, you don't need to put down money for a tablet. In fact, several serious gamers I know abhor playing games on a tablet, mainly because the phone is with them at all times and they can squeeze in a game whenever and wherever.

7. "I'll Find Uses Once I Get It"

Uhh no, you won't. That's the flawed thinking of several tablet buyers, for whom the iPad is now a wonderful paper-weight on their coffee tablet. Be clear about what you need it for before you get it.

Also, unless you use it every day, be prepared for the "pending updates" nightmare. Keep your tablet aside for a few days and as soon as you switch it on, you will be bombarded with all the notifications and pending updates you missed.

Did you fire up your iPad to listen to Apple Music? Wait, you need to update the Music app before you can do that. Did you want to open that PDF from the email you just checked? Hold on, update the PDF viewer first.

It's the most annoying part of owning a tablet. If you don't use it every day, those updates will force their way to grasp your attention first, pestering you to download them before you do anything else. Your dream of "pick it up and start using" is just a dream.

More and more, people are using tablets less and less. We'd like to hear from you if you still use your tablet or if it has become an ornamental gizmo lying around somewhere. And if you still use it, what do you use it for?

Source: 7 Reasons Why You Don't Need a Tablet Anymore

City manager: Racial disparity, satisfaction with police continued problem

The city of Columbia has some looming financial concerns and continues to struggle with social disparity and police department dissatisfaction, City Manager Mike Matthes said during his annual State of the City address Wednesday morning.

I'm "excited about our path forward, but there are some storm clouds ahead," Matthes said to a crowd of about 100 city leaders and residents gathered at City Hall.

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Matthes' annual presentation focused on the progress the city has made during the past year on its strategic plan, which aims to make Columbia a place where all residents can thrive. The plan is broken down into five focus areas: social equity, public safety, infrastructure, economy and operational excellence.

In terms of social equity, Matthes said the city still has a wide gap between its white and minority populations. The city has conducted citizen surveys since 2003, and the most recent one found 74 percent of residents felt "satisfied" they could thrive in Columbia — satisfaction rates were 78 percent for white residents and 54 percent for black residents.

Matthes said he is proud of the progress the city has made to close the gap. This past year, the city employed several part-time individuals to connect with neighbors and minority business owners in three underserved and neglected areas. The city also established a community outreach unit in the Columbia Police Department to focus on the three neighborhoods.

"We also allocated more funds for first-time homebuyers and affordable housing in three neighborhoods," Matthes said. "We started setting up a community land trust" to stabilize housing prices.

Matthes also spoke about progress made by a team of individuals employed to implement the strategic plan's focus on social equity, noting the effort was funded through one-time city surplus funds. Although team members are on short-term contracts, he said, the city plans to set aside funds for social equity work.

"That's just something that we're going to have to deal with each year when the budget comes up," he said.

The city's available discretionary funding has taken a hit because of stagnating sales tax revenue, Matthes said. He said there is no funding in next year's budget to hire new personnel and that the city is closely watching its revenue.

Matthes' address noted problems with public safety — he said there continues to be a problem with citizen satisfaction in the Columbia Police Department and resident perceptions of safety. According to the citizen surveys, both measures have fallen drastically since 2003.

Overall citizen satisfaction with the police department dropped from 78 percent in 2003 and 81 percent in 2005 to an all-time low of 59 percent in 2015.

Residents' perception of safety took a similar dip, with 77 percent of residents reporting in 2003 they were "satisfied" that the city is keeping them safe compared with 54 percent reporting satisfaction in 2015.

National polls point to a similar dip in satisfaction and trust in police departments nationwide. Between 2003 and 2015, Gallup found national confidence in police dropped from 61 percent to 52 percent.

In an interview after the news conference, Matthes said he was not sure whether the 20 percent drop in police department satisfaction indicated Columbia is an outlier in the nation.

"It's been a general erosion over time in police satisfaction nationally," he said.

With the police department being as underfunded as it is, establishing and using the community outreach unit is all the city can think of doing at this time to address the trend, Matthes said. The city does not have as much money to pour into new programs but knows community policing works, he said.

Finding money to hire additional police officers as the city's population grows has been difficult because the amount of tax revenue the city receives per capita has fallen over the years, Matthes said.

Matthes said the overall crime rate has been on a downward trend for decades and that the downward trend in the perception of safety partially can be explained by media coverage of national shootings and dissatisfaction with police departments. In conjunction with the most recent citizen survey, the city conducted focus groups where participants said national media coverage played a role in feeling unsafe.

Many people "said local media had influenced their perception of safety" and "acknowledged the effects of Ferguson and shootings across the country when looking at their perception of safety," Matthes said.

© 2016 Columbia Daily Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Source: City manager: Racial disparity, satisfaction with police continued problem

Top 10 Best Android Tablets Buyers Guide: June 2016 Edition

We're halfway through the year and the Android Tablet selection hasn't really gotten much better, still making many tablets from 2015 the best of the best right now. This is all due to change when Summer gives way to Fall, as the Holiday buying season starts, but for now we're stuck with last year's devices. That's not such a bad thing however, as many of last year's devices represent some of the best value out there right now, with great displays, lots of RAM and keyboards being some of the key offerings from the best tablets out there.

10. Lenovo Tab 3

The Lenovo Tab 3 was announced back during Mobile World Congress and should be hitting shelves this Summer. Available in both 7 and 8-inch sizes for the Tab 3 and a larger 10-inch size for the Tab 3 Business, this is one of the few tablet ranges that offer people choice. The standard Tab 3 variants might only have an HD 720p display, but with quad-core CPUs and 2GB of RAM they're solid options for their price. The same can be said for the Tab 3 Business, but this ups the resolution to a Full HD 1080p display as well as adding some extra grunt under-the-hood. As budget options go, these Google-powered devices, with full access to the Play Store, are far from the worse out there.

09. Amazon Fire, Fire HD

Amazon has figured out that the key to strong sales in the tablet game is to release Android tablets that are super-cheap and great value. That's what the Amazon Fire range is, offering users the choice of a colorful $50 Android tablet, with access to the majority of apps you know and love as well as Amazon's Appstore as well. For those looking for a little more, still without breaking the bank, there's the Fire HD options, which add faster processors and a better HD display. These are also available in a larger, 10.1-inch form factor as well. Many of the key specs of the Fire and Fire HD line are a mystery, but with quad-core CPUs as standard, even the $50 option is a solid deal. Those interested can learn more and buy one from the entire range by clicking below.

Buy the Amazon Fire Tablet

08. Samsung Galaxy View

Previously, the massive 18.4-inch display of the Galaxy View from Samsung has been panned as its major fault, but upon further thought, it's not the craziest of ideas. Instead, the 18.4-inch display basically gives users a second TV display to have fun with, and as Android games get better and better, this could be a decent all-in-one gaming machine (when you bring your own controller, naturally). Even so, there are few use cases outside of gaming, watching TV and using as an extra display where such a sizeable tablet make sense and it's really expensive for a simple, 1080p panel. The Galaxy Tab S devices carry better displays and are arguably much better value.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy View

07. Google Nexus 9

The Nexus 9 wasn't reviewed all that well, despite what we liked about it, and HTC weren't asked to return for another, but that doesn't mean much. At the end of the day, the Nexus 9 is still a solid, if unexciting tablet that has a great look and feel to boot. Its 8.9-inch Full HD display looks great and is nice and bright in the majority of situations, too. With an NVIDIA Tegra CPU, 2GB of RAM and stock Android – with an update to Android N almost guaranteed – the Nexus 9 is a powerful tablet for stock Android fans. On top of all of this, it was some of the better speakers for a tablet, too.

Buy the Nexus 9 from Amazon

06. Dell Venue 8 7000

The art of the smaller tablet seemed to disappear as quickly as it arrived with the original Nexus 7, but Dell is one of those keeping it alive. The Dell Venue 8 7000, with its powerful Intel quad-core CPU, great OLED display and cool design is a smaller Android tablet to consider. Especially given its sub-$250 price tag at the moment. Great for casual users as well looking for a little more out of their tablet's display, the Dell Venue 8 7000 has it all, even though it won't appeal to those looking for something larger. We reviewed the 7840 model, and at its reduced price, the Venue 8 7000 is a great tablet no matter what.

Buy the Dell Venue 8 7000

05. NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1

Let's say you're in the market for a smaller Android tablet that runs stock Android, has a decent display, is speedy all round, but above all must play Android games brilliantly. Well, if that's the case then you are left with no other option than to buy the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1. With an improved Tegra K1 under-the-hood, this 8-inch tablet might not have a Full HD display, or all the bells and whistles of other products, but what it does do is deliver a stunning gaming experience as well as a strong all-round offering regardless of what you want to do with it. Did we mention that it costs just $200?

Buy the NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1

04. Lenovo YOGA Tab 3 Pro

Many of you might think of the YOGA brand as something that only applies to Windows machines, but that's not the whole story, as Lenovo has been making excellent Android tablets under the YOGA brand for years now. The Lenovo YOGA Tab 3 Pro is perhaps their best, and offers users a great Quad HD 10.1-inch display, great sound from JBL and a Pico Projector to take the theater with you wherever you go. All of this is great, so what's the problem? Well, updates from Lenovo and the initial price, which is really quite steep, even today. Still, we loved it.

Buy the Lenovo YOGA Tab 3 Pro

03. Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet

The Xperia Z4 Tablet from Sony has been a real highlight for the firm, and when it launched back in Summer of 2015, it almost looked peerless. Since then things have changed, but the great keyboard and gorgeous display haven't. Neither has the fact despite being just 6.1mm thick it still managed to be waterproof, as well as sturdy and well-built. It is however, a little on the expensive side of things, costing as much as most laptops that could arguably do a lot more for less. With some good additions to Android that make it more keyboard and mouse friendly, Sony have a real winner on their hands, it's just a shame that it's quite so expensive.

Buy the Xperia Z4 Tablet

02. Google Pixel C

The Pixel C did not launch brilliantly, and has taken a number of updates to get it into the shape that Google initially promised when it was launched. On top of this, reports of the random reboot issue needing a complete replacement altogether haven't done Google any favors in the long run. It's a good-looking machine, with a great display and a pretty capable keyboard, but with lots of issues surrounding the device, it makes us wonder whether or not Google rushed this to market. Regardless, it runs well for the most part and is one of the more appealing Android tablets, with easily the best hardware keyboard option out there.

01. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 – 9.7-inch

With a 9.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display, the Galaxy Tab S2 already has an already massive advantage over the majority of Android tablets – as well as the iPad. Under-the-hood we have Samsung's own processor and the software, while not to everyone's taste, does help to add some of the more interesting stuff that Android is arguably missing. It has a gorgeous screen, it's a perfect all-round tablet and it performs handsomely – what's not to like?

Buy the Galaxy Tab S2 - 9.7-inch
Source: Top 10 Best Android Tablets Buyers Guide: June 2016 Edition

Is the Orthodox diaspora a problem that's too hard to solve?

24 June 2016 | by Tom Heneghan Orthodox Council postpones a decision on overlapping jurisdictions abroad

This week's Orthodox Holy and Great Council was supposed to solve the growing problem of the Church's diaspora, the traditionally non-Orthodox parts of the world where immigration has brought with it overlapping jurisdictions and several bishops in one city can all claim the same title.

The problem has been the subject of lively debate at the Council in this western Crete town, but the deadline – which was set in 2009 after discussions going back at least to 1990 -- has come and gone with no solution in sight.

"Everyone in the Council desires a solution that is canonical. And everybody in the Council knows what it would take to achieve such a solution," Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria in Cyprus told journalists in between Council sessions.

"But we are frail human beings, so we need to ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit to guide us to achieving such a solution."

The 10 participating churches have approved a declaration about the diaspora, which took time because there are 290 delegates and all had to sign copies in the four official languages Greek, Russian, French and English.

The document states that it is not yet possible "for historical and pastoral reasons" to create single local churches in the countries where Orthodox have migrated to over the past century. To be complete, it should have added "for political and financial reasons" as well, because these factors also play an important role in the diaspora problem.

Unlike the Catholic Church's global jurisdiction under the pope, the Orthodox churches are national churches under primates with authority over their canonical territory. The local church is for all Orthodox, no matter what nationality, and no other church should establish dioceses within its borders.

Some are responsible for only one country, such as Romania, while others have several. The Moscow Patriarchate covers not only Russia but almost all of the former Soviet Union, as well as China and Japan.

The 20th century's world wars, economic upheavals and communist revolutions -- which put a large majority of the world's Orthodox under atheist regimes – sent millions of believers emigrating to western Europe, North America and beyond. In their new homes, they founded churches along ethnic lines, keeping ties to their mother church and language.

Dioceses were formed and bishops named, ignoring the canonical rule of one bishop per city. Several men could claim the title of the city's Orthodox bishop but each stayed under the authority of the mother church, even generations after leaving the ancestral home.

Orthodox canon law would demand a merger of these different churches into a single national church. In addition, maintaining the separate diaspora churches opens them to the charge of "ethnophyletism," or organising along purely ethnic lines, which the Orthodox declared a heresy in 1872.

Ionut Mavrichi, spokesman for the Romanian delegation, warned against using the heresy charge against a church like his with a large diaspora. "We must not forget we are born and live in certain countries. We must not dismiss, under the label of ethnophyletism, our own national identity."

Most of these churches are ethnic strongholds, appreciated by the faithful exactly because of the link to the old country. A new national church in Britain or the United States would mix ethnic Greeks, Romanians, Russians and others together and pray in English, a reform for which there is not much demand.

Creating new national churches would also cut the mother churches off from their diaspora, an important source of funding for some and an extension of national influence for others.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, for example, has such close ties with Greek-Americans that teams of them fly over to run complex operations such as the press centre here in Crete. Amid technicians easily switching between Greek and English, a Russian journalist tweeted that U.S. spies had infiltrated the Council.

Russia's diaspora is a special case because, thanks to the Moscow Patriarchate's ties to the Kremlin and oligarchs close to President Vladimir Putin, the money flows outwards to build up the Russian Orthodox presence even where there are few believers.

Foundations launched by oligarchs have bankrolled the building spree. One prestige project, a 70 million euro gold-domed cathedral opening soon near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, was paid for by the state and will be part of the Russian embassy there.

The Kremlin actively backs this expansion, and supports Church causes like the defence of Middle East Christians, as an exercise in "soft power" to assert Moscow's role on the global stage. The Church returns the favour with support for Kremlin policies.

As the largest Orthodox church, with anything between half and two-thirds of the world's 250-300 million Orthodox believers, Russia does not want to see its diaspora cut off by the creation of new national churches abroad. That would reduce its influence in world Orthodoxy and boost that of the rival Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. So during preparations for the Council, it insisted on no radical change in the diaspora and got its way.

What diaspora bishops have done is create episcopal assemblies in several countries to at least coordinate what they can do together and act as a single body when dealing with other faiths or with governments. Following traditional protocol, the chairman is the local representative of the Ecumenical Patriarch or the bishop from the highest-ranked church in the Orthodox hierarchy.

During Council preparations, the Russian church, which ranks only fifth in the traditional hierarchy because it was founded later than the ancient patriarchates, argued for a rotating chairmanship but that innovation was not accepted.

Bishops in the United States and in France launched their assemblies decades ago and their counterparts in other countries have done so more recently. According to the Council's diaspora document, which was drafted in 2009, the churches were supposed to review the experiences of these assemblies and submit a canonical solution for the Council to approve.

The Council document signed here modifies that text to put off a solution to some unknown point in the future.

Source: Is the Orthodox diaspora a problem that's too hard to solve?

The solution to random reboots on the Pixel C is... an RMA replacement

Some Pixel C owners have had a rough time with Google's flagship tablet. Problems first started appearing last month, when the scheduled over-the-air update for May (plus some Android N preview builds that had already been available) started causing semi-random reboots, usually when the tablet had gone into its low-power mode running on battery. The June update failed to fix the problem, as did the fourth version of the Android N developer preview.

It looks like we finally have a solution, but it's not a pretty one. After initially recognizing the reboot issue, Google employees commenting in both the AOSP bug tracker and the Nexus help forum haven't been able to provide a solution. A few desperate users (including our own Artem Russakovskii) decided to give up on waiting for a software answer and simply replaced their tablets. At this point all Pixel C units should still be well within the one year warranty. Lo and behold, the replacement tablets don't have the reboot problem, no matter what version of Android 6.0 or Android N they're running.

There's another solution, and that's to flash back to the April release or before. (Also note, not all Pixel C tablet owners are reporting the reboot problem, just a vocal collection of very upset people on Google's support sites. If yours is working fine, don't worry about it.) We're guessing that either there was a bad batch of specific Pixel C hardware... or that the reboot is caused by a cumulative problem with the tablet's design that will crop up on the replacement tablets too at some point. I suppose we'll know in a few months.

If you're ready to replace your tablet with the Google Store's RMA process, here's the contact information:

Source: The solution to random reboots on the Pixel C is... an RMA replacement

Honor Forays into Tablet Segment With

NEW DELHI: Huawei's smartphone e-brand Honor today announced its entry into the tablet PC segment with the launch of 6,999 device with 7-inch screen size. 

"We found a gap in tablet segment. Hence, we launched a tablet which can occupy position of second device of people after phone. It has 4100 mAh battery which can support 12 hours of movie watching, websites browsing and checking mail for up to 8 hours," Huawei India's Director Sales (Devices Business) P Sanjeev said at the launch.

He said the company has not set any sales target and entry in to tablet segment is its effort to meet the consumer's need of mobile devices. 

"This tablet has aircraft grade aluminium body which is found in expensive devices," Sanjeev said. 

The company also unveiled its first smartphone on Android Marshmallow platform Honor 5C for 10,999 which it expects can mitigate call drop problem.

"Often people cover one antenna in a mobile phone while talking. We have provided dual antenna in Honor 5C so that if one antenna is covered, the other can receive signal. We have attempted to resolve call drop problem on devices front," Sanjeev said. 

Honor 5C's camera has professional features like focus mode, shutter speed, white balance etc. 

The smartphone has 8 megapixel front camera and 13 megapixel rear camera, 2GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage and external storage expandable up to 128 GB. 

Honor has set 300 per cent sales growth of its devices this year. Huawei sold one million smartphones in 2015 that includes 8,00,000 Honor branded phones in India. Globally, Huawei shipped 108 million smartphones in 2015 and became the third largest player after Apple and Samsung. 

"We have optimised hardware and incorporated best things from the world for a good consumer experience. We know design is best done in Paris, components in Japan, algorithms in Russia, software in India and USA for chipset," Huawei India President Consumer Business Group Allen Wang said. 

Both the devices have in-built panic button feature, which can trigger emergency alert, that is mandatory for all mobile devices from January 1, 2017. 

Honor started sale of its tablet on Flipkart from today but Honor 5C will start selling from June 30 on Flipkart and HiHonor website. 

"The registration for Honor 5C begins today. There will be flash sale (limited unit) of Honor 5C on June 30," Sanjeev said.

Read Also: Stuff that Refresh a Musician's InventoryMotorola Moto G4 To Be Launched In India Soon

Source: PTI
Source: Honor Forays into Tablet Segment With

Huawei Honor T1 tablet, Honor 5C smartphone launched

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: As expected, Honor on Wednesday forayed into the tablet PC segment launching a 7-inch screen size tablet and pricing it competitively at just Rs 6,999.

The 7-inch PC tablet comes with a 4100 mAh battery and can support 12 hours of movie watching, websites browsing and checking mail for up to 8 hours, the company said.

"We found a gap in tablet segment. Hence, we launched a tablet which can occupy position of second device of people after phone," Huawei India's Director Sales (Devices Business) P Sanjeev said at the launch.

"This tablet has aircraft grade aluminium body which is found in expensive devices," Sanjeev said.

The company also unveiled Honor 5C, its first smartphone on Android Marshmallow platform.

It comes with 5.2-inch full-HD display, and is powered by the company's in-house HiSilicon Kirin 650 octa-core processor (4 Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.7GHz + 4 Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2GHz).

The smartphone has 8 megapixel front camera and 13 megapixel rear camera, 2GB RAM, 16 GB internal storage and external storage expandable up to 128 GB.

"Often people cover one antenna in a mobile phone while talking. We have provided dual antenna in Honor 5C so that if one antenna is covered, the other can receive signal. We have attempted to resolve call drop problem on devices front," Sanjeev said.

Honor has set 300 per cent sales growth of its devices this year. Huawei sold one million smartphones in 2015 that includes 8,00,000 Honor branded phones in India. Globally, Huawei shipped 108 million smartphones in 2015 and became the third largest player after Apple and Samsung.

"We have optimised hardware and incorporated best things from the world for a good consumer experience. We know design is best done in Paris, components in Japan, algorithms in Russia, software in India and USA for chipset," Huawei India President Consumer Business Group Allen Wang said.

Both the devices have in-built panic button feature, which can trigger emergency alert, that is mandatory for all mobile devices from January 1, 2017.

Honor started sale of its tablet on Flipkart from today but Honor 5C will start selling from June 30 on Flipkart and HiHonor website.

"The registration for Honor 5C begins today. There will be flash sale (limited unit) of Honor 5C on June 30," Sanjeev said.

With PTI Inputs

Source: Huawei Honor T1 tablet, Honor 5C smartphone launched

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet review

Microsoft wanted Windows 2-in-1s to happen so badly that it stopped waiting for the OEMs and built its own. After years of mixed results, devices like the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book are widely regarded today, showing the world just how useful a Windows tablet can be. That has left computer manufacturers in the odd position of trying to catch up with Microsoft, their longtime partner – and most have failed.

Lenovo's latest Surface competitor, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, could be the exception. The device, which comes complete with a ThinkPad keyboard, starts at $810 with an Intel Core M3 processor and 4GB of RAM. The $1,230 model we reviewed, meanwhile, includes the top-of-the-line M7 processor and 8GB of RAM. That's an excellent specification, and it significantly undercuts the pricing of Microsoft's Surface line.

Can the ThinkPad X1 Tablet manage to be a tablet and a ThinkPad, all at once? And is there any reason to get this over a Surface Pro 4? Let's take a look.

Effective, if a touch confusing at first

The ThinkPad brand has had a particular look since the 90s, and Lenovo has always been careful to respect that aesthetic. The ThinkPad X1 Tablet brings this look to the tablet market, with some obvious influence from the Surface Pro 4 thrown in. The result is exactly what you'd expect when you hear the words "ThinkPad tablet," right down to the defined corners and the iconic face of the keyboard, complete with the obligatory red dot.

Related: The Surface Pro 4 is not alone — here's its best competitors

When we first picked up the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, we were slightly puzzled. The keyboard attachment and the tablet were easy to identify, and putting them together isn't rocket science by any means. A secure magnetic latch snaps into place and holds firm. But to sit everything on a desk or table, the user needs to unlock the metal kickstand on the back of the tablet that serves as a sturdy counterweight. The mechanism's workings aren't obvious at a glance.

Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Once you work this out, using the ThinkPad X1 is easy. To adjust the angle of the screen, users have to avoid the urge to tilt the screen itself and instead adjust the kickstand. The hinge is solid, and its presence means the keyboard doesn't have to serve as counterweight to the tablet, which saves both space and weight. This otherwise top-heavy tablet works comfortably docked on a desk, or even your lap.

The tablet is 11.45 by 8.24 inches, and weighs 2.4 pounds with the keyboard attached. The tablet itself is .33 inches thick, identical to the Surface Pro 4 and slightly thicker than the iPad Pro's .27 inches. The ThinkPad X1's keyboard attachment is .20 inches thick, meaning while docked and closed everything is just over a half inch thick. These dimensions make the ThinkPad X1 relatively large and heavy for a 2-in-1. However, a total thickness of a half-inch with keyboard isn't exactly massive, and the size never annoyed us.

Overall, the ThinkPad X1 manages to be like a tablet and a ThinkPad all at once, which isn't easy to pull off.

All the input devices, please

Our ThinkPad X1 Tablet came with five distinct input devices. There's the touchscreen, the optional ThinkPad Pen Pro ($40), and the keyboard attachment, which in addition to its keys offers a touchpad and a trackpointer.

This is among the nicest tablet keyboards we've ever used.

The touchscreen felt great in our tests. The surface was smooth and consistent, as you'd expect, and gestures were all correctly identified. And if you want more precision than your greasy fingers can offer, the ThinkPad Pen Pro delivers. It makes stylus input quite natural, and works well with the Windows desktop thanks to its built-in buttons for right and left clicking. Hover a bit above the screen and you'll see a pointer, which makes it easy to avoid accidentally tapping a button or icon.

While the ThinkPad X1 keyboard doesn't quite measure up to the keyboard on a ThinkPad laptop, it comes close. The keys are what you'd expect from a ThinkPad. They're well-spaced, and give enough feedback for touch typists to develop a flow. Of course, certain compromises had to be made to fit a keyboard into a small cover, so don't expect the full ThinkPad keyboard experience. The depth of each keystroke is noticeably shorter, which dampens the tactile experience. Having said that, this is the closest thing to a ThinkPad keyboard available for any tablet, and is among the nicest tablet keyboards we've used.

The keyboard is backlit, though the feature is disabled by default. To enable it, you'll need to hold "Fn" and hit "Space," which are easy enough keys to find in the dark.

Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Some magnets placed in the keyboard cover snap onto the bezel, giving you a pleasant angle for typing. Typing is easier at an angle, this arrangement making typing louder, which could be a problem if you're using the tablet beside a sensitive neighbor.

The touchpad is quite small, two by three and a half inches. Input was accurate, and the texture is pleasant. As with most ThinkPad touchpads, it's smaller than it could be because of the need to offer buttons to trackpointer users. Speaking of, there's the trackpoint, the longtime staple of the ThinkPad line. It honestly seems like an anachronism on a tablet, but we're sure longtime ThinkPad fans will enjoy its inclusion.

Users hoping to login to their tablet without a touchpad will enjoy the Windows Hello compatible fingerprint reader.

Not many ports, but you can buy attachments for more

The ThinkPad X1 Tablet offers one USB 3.0 port on the side of the tablet itself, alongside a USB type-C port for connecting the tablet to a power supply. A mini display port makes it possible to connect external displays, and a headphone jack works with external speakers. There's also a microSD port.

There are no ports whatsoever on the keyboard, but Lenovo has left room for more with a unique module system. Basically, you can snap attachments between the keyboard and the tablet, giving you extra features.  A $150 productivity module gives you an HDMI port, a Onelink+ Port for docking, another USB 3.0 port, and a two-cell battery rated for five additional hours of usage. Another attachment offers a built-in projector. We weren't able to try any of these attachments out, but they're interesting in concept.

Wireless capabilities are handled by the Intel 8260AC+BT card, which provides 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.

The display gets the job done

The 12-inch display offered by the ThinkPad X1 Tablet offers a resolution of 2,160 by 1,440, which is generous. Despite being relatively small, there always seems to be room to work with.

Devices like the X1 Tablet could help Windows tablets go mainstream.

At full brightness, the ThinkPad X1 puts out 395 lumens of light, which is exceptional. Using this device outside shouldn't be a problem. And the contrast was excellent, with a 720:1 rating at max brightness. That's nowhere close to the absurd 416300:1 rating of the Samsung TabPro S (which has an OLED display, currently unique in the 2-in-1 market), and also behind others like Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 and Dell's Latitude 12 7000, which hits a maximum ratio of 970:1. With that said, a ratio of 720:1 is not bad, and actually above-average for the 2-in-1 category as a whole.

Color more of an issue. Our results showed the X1 hitting 68 percent of the AdobeRGB standard, which isn't terrible, but is one of the lower results we've seen among high-end devices lately. The sRGB scale rating was 94 percent. Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 and Dell's Latitude 12 7000 hit 99 and 98 percent, respectively.

Numbers are one thing. Experience is another. Watching this delightful cartoon, it was easy to appreciate the time put into every texture, and the colors looked great. While the X1 doesn't quite measure up on paper, it's still good enough to deliver an enjoyable experience.

Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Moving on to live action, we watched the trailer for Star Trek Beyond. It was easy to make out every detail of the unnecessary chaos and carnage, even in darker scenes with a lot of shadow. The spirit of exploration and hopefulness that once defined this franchise could not be detected, but that is no fault of the display.

Audio is a different matter, as with many tablets. Everything is clear and easy to make out, but bass is muddled. You can't really rock out to these speakers, but you'll be able to make out music or podcasts from across the room. External speakers or headphones are highly recommended.

A powerful mobile processor

The ThinkPad X1 Tablet is powered by an Intel Core m7-6Y75 processor. The Core m7 isn't as powerful as the better-known Core i7, as it seeks to balance performance with portability. Still, it's no slouch.

Our Geekbench scores show just how much this processor can do. The single core rating was 3,212, and the multi-core score was 6,521. The ThinkPad X1 can keep up with most Windows 10 tablets on the market right now, and that includes the Surface Book.

These results are surprising. The Core m7 in the ThinkPad X1 is on par with the Core i5 in the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. While that may seem a disadvantage, the two models are similarly priced, so it's a real neck-and-neck competition. Core M is built for efficiency but, in certain situations, it can perform very well.

This was reflected in day-to-day usage. Performance was so good that we forgot this entire machine was crammed into a tablet form factor, thinking of it instead as a full-blown laptop. Browsing the web and writing were no problem, but neither were more processor intensive tasks. Our 7Zip combined benchmark score of 9000 shows that even processor-heavy tasks like compressing files are fast compared to other tablets.

We only ran into a bit of a snag with our Handbrake test, which at 2,510 seconds took longer than other devices. This may indicate that the Core m7 processor in the X1 Tablet is only configured for extreme performance in short bursts. The ThinkPad's loss in that test should be noted. Fast though it may be, this is still a tablet. It can't replace a workstation desktop or laptop.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet Compared To Below average solid state performance

The ThinkPad X1 offers a Samsung M.2 2280 solid state drive, with 128GB of storage space. An extra $530 brings this up to 1TB, if you need a lot of space.

How fast is the drive? Somewhat disappointing. Our Crystal DiskMark benchmark showed a read speed of 476 megabytes per second, and a write speed of 307MB/s. That's half the speed of the Microsoft Surface Book in both reading and writing, and a much slower write speed than the Surface Pro 4.

Our HDTune test showed a read speed of 291MBps, which is worse but in line with the other results.

This is by no means a cripplingly slow drive, but it is quite a bit behind the competition. This means that saving files, and long file transfers, are going to be quite a bit slower on the ThinkPad X1 than tablets like the Surface Pro 4 or the Dell Latitude 12 7000.

Not much for gaming

There's not a lot of room for dedicated graphics cards inside tablets, so they're powered by on-board graphics. The ThinkPad X1 uses Intel HD graphics 515, which is one the least powerful IGPs currently available.

Here, as with processor performance, the X1 Tablet outdid our expectations. Its Fire Strike score of 738 is far from the highest score we've recorded, but respectable so far as tablets are concerned. Surface Pro devices edge the X1 out, but only barely, and the X1 outperforms the Dell Latitude 12 7000.

To see how this 2-in-1 handles real-world gaming, we fired up Heroes of the Storm. We started at a low resolution, 1,366 by 768, in part because that's what the game recommended. At the lowest graphics settings, this gave us a framerate of 62 frames per second, which is playable. Things changed when we cranked the graphics up to max settings, with a framerate of 20FPS.

We then tried Counterstrike: Global Offensive at 1080p, low settings gave us 59 FPS, which was perfectly playable. Cranking the settings up, we got 13 FPS, which was a stuttery mess. Finally, just because we were curious, we turned the settings all the way up to the tablet's max resolution of 2,160 by 1,440. The result was a respectable 44 FPS on the low settings, and 8 FPS on the high settings.

All in all, the X1 Tablet is not as bad as it could be, and it exceeds the average for the 2-in-1 category. However, the fact remains that Intel's HD 515 is not built for serious gaming. It'll only handle the least demanding 3D titles, and even then, you may be forced to play at low detail settings.

Light on its feet

This tablet weights 2.4 pounds when docked with the keyboard, and is just over a half-inch thick total. It can easily fit in your bag, and is light enough that you'll wonder multiple times during a long trip whether you've forgotten it somewhere.

But all that portability doesn't mean much if the battery dies during your trip. Our Peacekeeper battery benchmark, which runs a number of browser-based tasks on a loop until the battery ultimately dies, gave us three hours and four minutes of battery life. This is a disappointing result. The Surface Pro 4 lasted six hours 26 minutes, for example.

Greg Mombert/Digital Trends

Things were a little better in our web browsing loop, during which a numbers of popular websites are loaded automatically until the battery dies. The X1 lasted five hours and 46 minutes, which is a decent web browsing session. The battery did even better while looping a movie trailer, lasting seven hours and 40 minutes.

Overall, the battery life could be better, which is probably why Lenovo is selling an attachment with an extra battery. But considering the price, and the mobile processor, we expected better.

No fans, occasionally hot

There are no fans on the ThinkPad X1 Tablet, meaning you'll never hear it no matter how hot it gets.

And it will get a little warm. Left idle for five minutes, we detected a surface temperature of 92 degrees Fahrenheit. To be fair, that high temp was only found in a single spot behind the kickstand, but it is noticeable.

Related: Despite improvements, Windows 10 tablets remain second-class

And it became more noticeable after running benchmarks for a while. We recorded a surface temperature of 122 degrees in that same spot. These temperatures are far from dangerous, but they can be a little unpleasant during extended sessions, especially if you're holding the tablet.

Warranty

Lenovo offers a one-year warranty for the ThinkPad X1, which is standard for laptops and tablets.

Conclusion

The ThinkPad X1 Tablet is not a perfect 2-in-1, but it is a very good one. It competes with or exceeds the Surface Pro 4 on almost every benchmark, and offers a much nicer keyboard. In some ways, the ThinkPad X1 even manages to compete with the Surface Book, with similar processing power and graphics capability fit into a much smaller form factor. The display, while not perfect, is in line with the competition. And a unique docking system gives users the ability to add all sorts of extra ports between the keyboard and the tablet, something no competing Windows 10 tablet currently offers.

The ThinkPad X1 offers all this, and is competitive on price. Offering a similar range of processor and memory configurations as the Surface Pro 4 and the Dell Latitude 12 7000 series 2-in-1, the X1 Tablet is more affordable than either when similarly configured.

The Lenovo's main weakness, and what keeps it from earning an Editor's Choice award, is its battery. The X1 Tablet is definitely behind the competition in that area. The hard drive is also relatively slow, with half the read speed of the Surface Pro 4 and the Dell Latitude 12 7000.

Still, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet is a great third party alternative to the Surface Pro 4. If other OEMs stepped up to compete at this level, Windows 2-in-1s would go from relative obscurities to the mainstream.

Source: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet review