Hasta La Gadget!

This could be what Lenovo’s tablet looks like, according to a leaked Powerpoint presentation. Photo courtesy of This is my Next

Yet another major electronics manufacturer may throw its hat into the tablet ring this summer according to a recent report.

Chinese PC manufacturing giant Lenovo has plans to debut its Android 3.0-powered ThinkPad Tablet come June, according to a leaked Powerpoint presentation obtained by tech reporter Joanna Stern.

As the document says, the device will be powered by Honeycomb, the tablet-optimized version of Android. It will run on the Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, a chip which has virtually reached mobile-industry standard status after being featured on myriad phones and tablets debuted in 2011.

Other touted specs remain similar to the already-existing pack: Micro USB, HDMI, SD card and USB 2.0 ports are all included. 16, 32 and 64-GB versions will be offered, as well as the eventual release of 3G and 4G-enabled versions.

The tablet does deviate from its brethren somewhat, but you’ll have to spend a little more to see the differences. Optional choices include a stylus pen for “sketching and note-taking,” as well as a docking bay with keyboard attachment, which essentially turns the tablet into a laptop. Think HTC Flyer meets the Motorola Atrix.

Since Lenovo’s tablet is marketed in the Powerpoint pictures as the tablet “for on-the-go business professionals…and the IT Managers that support them,” we may be seeing a rival to Research in Motion’s BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, a device also aimed at the enterprise market. Originally a laptop designed and manufactured by IBM, the ThinkPad brand was purchased by Lenovo in 2005.


Some lucky Aussies might have been able to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v ahead of the rest of the world, but it turns out the Portuguese will actually be taking this Honeycomb tablet home first, starting tomorrow. Originally known as the Galaxy Tab 10.1 but quickly superseded by a slimmer, impending model, said transitional device is now listed on Vodafone Portugal’s website with a more delightful €589.90 ($860, which is no doubt off-contract) tag to go with its HSPA+ radio, along with a big red “available from April 26th” stamp. We dug through Vodafone’s other European sites and the only country that also mentions this Tegra 2 slate is the Netherlands, though it only indicates a “week 17” launch — in other words, any time between now and May 1st. If you’re in Europe and don’t mind this slightly out-of-date whopper, be sure to check back as we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more details.

[Thanks, Carlos O.]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v available tomorrow for €590, starting with Portugal originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the ultra-thin Lenovo ThinkPad X1 we detailed just a few hours ago? The document that dished those secrets also mentioned an “X Slate,” which made us wonder if Lenovo’s LePad was finally hitting the states… but This is my next seems to have stumbled across a grander piece of technology than that oft-delayed slate. According to a presumably leaked company presentation, Lenovo’s planning to release an Android 3.0 tablet this July with a giant raft of specs — a 10.1-inch 1280 x 800 IPS capacitive multitouch panel, a Tegra 2 processor, up to 64GB of storage, front and rear cameras, a full-size USB 2.0 port, mini-HDMI out, a genuine SD card reader and up to 8 hours of purported battery life in a package about 14mm thick and weighing 1.6 pounds.

What’s more, it will reportedly have an optional dual-digitizer with “true pen support” and an optional keyboard case, possibly aping ASUS’s recent Slate and Transformer tablet input mechanisms by allowing for both simultaneously. There’s also apparently plenty of software support for the business-minded, including IT integration as well as anti-theft and remote wipe options, and all this will apparently start at the competitive price of $499 — assuming these documents are legitimate and still valid. You see, they look a little preliminary for a slate supposedly sampling in just a couple of months, and there are contradictions here and there, such as the mention of a 1080p display in one slide, and some watermarks from 2009 in others. Still, Lenovo, if you’re indeed producing a tablet today, we’re liking its proposed specs — don’t suppose we can get a Tegra T25 chip while you’re at it? Find a few extra renders and plenty of slides at our source link.

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet leaks out with Honeycomb, IPS screen, optional stylus and keyboard folio? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 17:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here’s a little secret that T-Mobile didn’t really intend for public consumption: if you give the company a ring you can nab an extra $100 off a G-Slate. The discount was emailed out to those who signed up for a special promotional offer T-Mo teased recently. Like most things, though, the internet got ahold of this juicy morsel and we’re happy to tell you it’s open to everyone. Just reference promo code GSLATE100 and you can pick up a shiny new Honeycomb tablet for $430 — provided you have an existing voice plan or sign up for one, are willing to commit to a two-year data contract on top of that, and don’t mind dealing with a mail-in rebate. If those caveats don’t scare you off, go ahead and call. Just act quick, the offer ends April 27th. Check out the larger image after the break for full instructions.

Continue reading T-Mobile willing to knock $100 off G-Slate, if you ask nicely

T-Mobile willing to knock $100 off G-Slate, if you ask nicely originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint service the only thing standing between you and a Motorola Xoom? Good news — a tipster passed along an internal calendar showing an April 25th employee training date for the Honeycomb tablet, and while we’re still taking it with a grain of salt, it seems like the real deal. If past products are any indication, it should hit Sprint stores a fortnight later, in early May, lining up nicely with those Xoom cases that were spotted a week back. The Nexus S 4G also looks to be slotted for employee training the same day, foreshadowing busy times ahead for the Now Network cashiers.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Motorola Xoom, Nexus S 4G hitting Sprint in early May? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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