Hasta La Gadget!

This week the folks at Samsung have revealed two new convertable slates with the ability to connect to a keyboard dock and run full touch-capable Windows 8. Both the Series 5 and Series 7 Slate PCs will be bringing a 10-point touch experience to your Windows 8 world with no less than their full Samsung set of features. In addition to being able to use the devices’ touchscreens and keyboards to control what’s on the display, you’ve got a Samsung S Pen to work with as well!

Both Series 5 and Series 6 slates work with the S Pen for 1,024 levels of sensitivity to bring on the best in the Samsung touch universe. This same technology is used in the Galaxy Note lineup also set to expand more than likely later today. These slates come with a set of preloaded Samsung apps such as the Samsung MediaHub as well to make sure you’ve got cross-device usage of all your Samsung-purchased media.

The Series 5 and Series 7 tablets come with 11.6-inch displays. The Series 7 display is 1920×1080 pixel resolution while the Series 5 has a 1366 x 768 resolution. The difference between these two devices besides the resolution across the same amount of screen real-estate is the thickness – with the 7 being 0.5-inch thick and the 5 being 0.38-inch. The Series 5 slate also has 2GB of memory with a 64GB hard drive while the 7 has 4GB of memory with a 128 GB hard drive.

The Series 7 slate comes with an Intel Atom Processor Z2760 while the Series 5 slate has an Intel® Core i5-3317U Processor, making the difference here relative to the amount of hardcore work you want to do. The Series 5 slate will be $749 with keyboard dock or $649 without keyboard dock while just one price exists for the Series 7 slate: $1199. Both models are set to pop up soon!

Samsung Series 5 and 7 Slate PCs bring Windows 8 goodness is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Samsung already showed off its Series 5 Hybrid back at Computex, but what we didn’t know was that Sammy had yet another tablet / laptop mash-up in the works. The company just formally announced the Series 5 and it turns out it’s going to be joined by the next-gen Series 7 Slate as well. (Also known as the ATIV tabs in regions outside the US.) The two 11-inch tablets more or less look alike, except the Series 5 is powered by an Atom-based Clover Trail processor, while the Series 7 packs Core i5 guts. Both support pen input, and will come with the same S Pen apps found on the Galaxy Note 10.1. As for that optional keyboard dock, Samsung previously touted its magnetic hinge, but the dock has since been retooled with a sturdier latch-based mechanism. (Check out the video below to see it in action — the tablet really does seem incapable of falling out.)

As you can imagine, that difference in processor entails more than just different clock speeds. The two-watt Atom chip inside the Series 5 is rated for about nine hours of battery life, whereas the Core i5-powered Series 7 is expected to last between four and five hours on a charge. (The Series 5 is lighter, too, at 1.65 pounds, compared with 1.89 for the Series 7.) And, being a lower-powered device, the Series 5 has no vents. Last major difference: the Series 7 has a 1080p screen, while the Series 5’s resolution tops out at 1,366 x 768.

On the software side, Samsung is loading all of its Win 8 systems with its various Media Hubs — yes, just like the ones you’ll find on the company’s Android devices. You’ll also find AllShare, a DLNA media-sharing app; S-Launcher, a widget that replicates the missing Start Menu in Windows 8; and eSettings, a centralized options menu for folks who maybe haven’t learned where all the settings are in Win 8. As for those S Pen applications, you’ve got S Note, among other carry-overs from the Android side. As with the Note 10.1, the pen itself can recognize 1,024 degrees of pressure sensitivity.

Both tablets will arrive October 26th, the day Windows 8 starts shipping. The Series 7 will be available in one $1,119 configuration with 4GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD and the keyboard. The Series 5, meanwhile, will cost $649, and will include 2GB of RAM and a 64GB solid-state drive. If you like, you can purchase the keyboard for $100, or you can buy the two as a bundle for $749. We’ll be back with reviews in October but until then, check out our walk-through below. (Note: we didn’t get a chance to play with AllShare, the S Pen apps or the Hubs, but hopefully we can give you a more detailed demo of the software soon.)

Continue reading Samsung announces Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 tablets with S Pen apps, optional keyboards

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets

Samsung announces Series 5 and Series 7 Windows 8 tablets with S Pen apps, optional keyboards originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re still a ways away from the official debut of Windows 8 hardware, but given its impending release, there’s plenty of software being cooked up for the new OS with a split personality. Cyberlink, best known for its ubiquitous PowerDVD software, is among those preparing for Win8’s tablet assault with some touch-optimized video editing software. Called PowerDirector, it’ll be available on Windows 8 launch day and will retail for around 10 to 15 bucks as a standalone app in the Windows Store — should you spring for the full version of PowerDirector, the finger-friendly version’s free. We got to see the new app in action, so join us after the break for a demo video and some impressions.

Continue reading Cyberlink’s PowerDirector app lets you edit movies on your Windows 8 slate (hands-on)

Filed under: Tablets, Software

Cyberlink’s PowerDirector app lets you edit movies on your Windows 8 slate (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos’ new Coverboard-decked 101 XS tablet isn’t the end of its Android efforts for 2012. During our briefing, the manufacturer revealed that it has both a 9.7- and 8-inch model incoming. The duo are set to arrive before the end of the year, and will, aside from dimensions, pack the same list of features we saw on the bigger model. Each will come with its own, perfectly-sized keyboard cover and what’s likely to be the same raft of connectivity options seen on Archos‘ first XS tablet. The 8-inch model (80 XS) will pack a 1,024 x 768 resolution screen, while the larger 9.7-inch slab (97 XS) will house a 1,280 x 800 16:10 screen, a ratio that differentiates it, if only a little, from the slightly bigger model unveiled today. Archos is keeping some vital points — like pricing — a secret for now, but we’ll update with more details as soon as we hear them.

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Archos readying 9.7- and 8-inch versions of its 101 XS tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When GameStop bought Spawn Labs, it was clear that some sort of cloud-based game streaming was on deck, to compete with the likes of Sony’s Gaikai and Onlive (now allied with Ouya). However, the company has just announced that the service will exclude consoles, and work only on tablets, PCs and internet enabled TVs — a change from the original plan. The decision was made “based on consumer feedback” after a private beta, according to the retailer, who hinted earlier that consoles may be a non-starter on the service. It also cited its “success in selling mobile devices, and the imminent launch of new consoles” to justify the change. The program’s launch is still planned for next year, but for now the console streaming path is clear for others.

Filed under: Gaming

GameStop’s cloud streaming will spurn consoles, hang with PCs, tabs and TVs only originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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