OakTrail
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Intel Oak Trail Atom Z670 tablets to arrive at the end of March
Intel's spent the last nine months prepping its Oak Trail silicon to improve the battery life and performance of Windows 7 tablets, and come the end of next month we should finally have some slates with the new 1.5GHz Atom Z670 chip inside. While Fudzilla has heard that the tablets will hit in the general March time frame, the eagle-eyed guys at Netbook News spotted the Fujitsu Stylistic Q550 press materials stating that the new platform will launch on March 30, 2011. That seems to line up with what we've heard on timing, since both the Oak Trail-powered Samsung Sliding PC 7 and MSI WindPad 100W were announced with March availability. Chances are we will hear more about it all at CeBIT next week, but honestly, at this point we're just really eager to get one of these in our hands to see what Chipzilla's really improved.
Fujitsu's 10-inch Stylistic Q550 tablet to sport Oak Trail, Windows 7
We knew good and well that Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 was en route, but now we're learning a few more dirty details as its official launch day draws ever nearer. Reportedly, the business-oriented slate will be fully revealed at CeBIT next month, with Fujitsu being one of the only outfits out there eager and willing to take a chance on both Oak Trail and Windows 7 Professional. Our experiences with existing Win7 tablets haven't been stellar, but it's possible that the added power in Oak Trail will cut down on the lag and make things a bit smoother to operate. We're told to expect a 10-inch LED touchscreen, smartcard slot, fingerprint reader, trusted-platform module (TPM), front and rear cameras, a 32GB / 64GB solid state drive, USB socket and an optional 3G module. Most impressive, however, is the claimed eight hours of battery life, which we'll quite honestly have to see to believe. If all goes well, it'll start shipping this April to European nations, but there's no word yet on how badly it'll hurt your wallet (or when it'll grab a passport and head to other continents). As you'd expect, we'll be live from Germany digging for more just as soon as the show floor opens. A brief introductory vid is just past the break.
Dell Rosemount tablet will have Intel's Oak Trail inside, stylus, removable battery and remote wipe
Dell means business with its upcoming Windows 7 slate, if the whispers we're hearing are true -- we have it on good authority that the recently-leaked Rosemount will be a Latitude. An inside source says that the 10-inch tablet will not only sport Dell's storied business brand but will be geared towards enterprise through and through, with features like serviceable components (including a removable battery), software encryption and the ability to perform a remote wipe, and that it'll have a dual-digitizer to support both touch input and a stylus for fine details. We don't know about performance or battery life quite yet, but the slate will reportedly use an Atom chip, specifically Intel's Oak Trail, so we'll let you imagine the possibilities. [Thanks, Anonymous]
Toshiba to release its Windows 7 tablet in the second half of the year
We know, from the side that tablet up there looks a lot like Toshiba's still unnamed 10-inch Honeycomb tablet, but it's actually the company's future Windows 7 slate, which we were told today won't be hitting the market until the second half of 2011. The model Toshiba had on display was behind glass and wasn't actually powered on, but we did confirm that it will have an 11.6-inch display and will be powered by Intel's Atom Oak Trail processor. That's all we were able to get out of the company, but apparently that very tablet was on display at CES, and Notebook Italia gathered there that it will have 64GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. So, what's the hold up on the slate? According to Toshiba's Marco Perino, the company's putting a bit of "Toshiba flavor" on top of the OS to make it more touch-friendly. He also said that it may not come to all parts of the world as different regions will determine the local demand. We're not sure anyone is holding their breath for this one, but we'll keep you updated if we should hear more. Hit the break for a few more behind-glass shots of the tablet. %Gallery-116771%
ViewSonic ViewPad 10Pro hands-on
We promised to dig up ViewSonic's dual-booting Windows 7 and Android 2.2 ViewPad 10Pro tablet when we got to Barcelona, and here we are delivering on our word. We just got a chance to check out the 10.1-inch slate and we have to say hardware-wise, we're dealing with typical ViewSonic quality -- the 1024 x 600-resolution, capacitive screen isn't exactly high quality (horizontal viewing angles were pretty bad) and the build was mediocre at best. However, software-wise we have to say the 10Pro is pretty interesting -- the Intel Atom Oak Trail-powered slab boots Windows 7 Home Premium, but is running Android 2.2 on top. Unlike the first ViewPad 10, you don't have to reboot the device to switch between Android and Windows as the Google OS is running as a virtualization. No word on the pricing of this one, but it should be hitting the market this May. Hit the break for a quick look at the relatively-quick Android / Windows hand-off. %Gallery-116532%
ViewSonic intros dual-SIM V350 smartphone, Windows 7 / Android dual-boot ViewPad 10Pro tablet
Mobile World Congress may not have its halls open quite yet, but that's not stopping ViewSonic from giving the world a peek at what's to come. First up is the V350 smartphone shown above, a dual-SIM creature with a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive touchpanel, Android 2.2, five megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 and A-GPS to boot. By supporting a pair of SIMs, it allows jetsetters to carry two SIMs from two operators in order to take advantage of different plans and networks for voice / data in different countries. Moving on, there's a highly intriguing new tablet in the waiting -- the ViewPad 10Pro. This 10-incher (shown after the break) is a "professional" slate with dual-boot functionality, enabling users to tap into Android 2.2 or Windows 7 Professional at their leisure. It's also one of the first tablets to utilize Intel's long-awaited Oak Trail platform, and it'll ship with a 1024 x 600 LED-backlit capacitive multitouch screen, inbuilt 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and a battery good for six or so hours of life. Finally, the ViewPad 10s -- which was just unveiled at CES -- is seeing a gentle update in Barcelona, with the ViewPad 10s 3G (predictably) gaining integrated 3G functionality. Mum's the word on pricing and release, but as always, we'll be prying for more once we touch down at BCN.
Onkyo tablet roadmap shows a selection of Android and Windows devices in a variety of sizes
Onkyo is giving us a taste of what next, revealing its plans for future tablet onslaught that will leave no operating system untouched -- well, Android and Windows anyway. For Windows 7 lovers, the company's three SlatePC tablets, the TW317A5, TW217A5, and TW117A4 are all going to see updates through the year, including Oak Trail power from Intel sometime before June. Meanwhile, the 10-inch Android SlatePad TA117C1 and TA117C3 will receive built-in 3G and will be joined with a 7-inch, ARM-powered model later this year. Ruggedized tablets are mentioned too, but no plans for a US release for any of them. No surprise there.
Evolve III Maestro slate triple-boots Android, MeeGo and Windows 7 (video)
We inevitably miss things at tradeshows, and here's one we regret -- we didn't catch this obscure Australian tablet in the flesh at CES 2011. Apparently, this Evolve III Maestro was casually chilling at Intel's booth with Android, Windows 7 and a 1.83GHz Atom N475 CPU inside, but representatives were willing to reveal grander plans if you spent a little time with the device. You see, come Q2 2011, the slate will graduate to a dual-core Oak Trail CPU, and add MeeGo to the stack for a grand total of three operating systems. TabletPCBuzz says Windows 7 and Android are getting eight and sixteen hours of battery life on the Oak Trail chip respectively, and the tablet weighs less than two pounds. It's hard to say what other features the Oak Trail version will have, but even the existing tablet isn't a pushover, with a 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, up to 32GB of solid state storage, 3G and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and a pair of full-size USB ports on one edge. Sources suggest the original will find a $500 price point, with the Oak Trail commanding an additional $100. After the break, you'll find a disappointingly static video, but follow the links below for a walkthrough of the MeeGo UI and all the specs you could want. [Thanks, Garf]
Viliv X70 Windows 7 slate with Oak Trail hands-on (updated with video)
You may remember Viliv from last year's CES, but it's back again this year with a smattering new of tablets. The X70 Slate is powered by Intel's upcoming 1.5 GHz Oak Trail processor, and has a 7-inch 1024 x 600-resolution capacitive multitouch display. That new silicon is supposed to simultaneously speed up Windows 7 performance (both Starter and Home Premium are available), and improve battery life (they claim 6.5 hours, which is better than the Galaxy Tab). A custom split keyboard was added by Viliv, which eases thumb typing so you don't have to awkwardly reach across the screen to hunt and peck for keys. It's got a 3 megapixel shooter around back as well as a 1.3 megapixel shooter up front in addition to an optical trackpad. This thing should be hitting retailers like Best Buy and Amazon in April for an unspecified price, but you can check out our hands-on photos while you patiently wait to find out. Update: Video after the break! %Gallery-113308%
Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series hands-on preview (video)
If you're an avid Engadget reader, you're familiar with a dream of ours -- we have always wanted a netbook / tablet hybrid (netverible as we like to call 'em) that actually works really well. We don't want to get our hopes up too much, but the Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series could be it. While we got a chance to see the 10.1-inch tablet with its slide out keyboard just a few days ago, we caught some one-on-one time with the device behind closed doors here at the show and came out having a lot of hope in the product. The unit we saw, and the one being shown on the show floor here at CES, is still pre-production, but even so the sliding mechanism worked pretty smoothly. That's not to say it doesn't still feel delicate, but it actually auto-slides open once you start to push up the screen. As you'll see in the video, it's a rather exhilarating process, although, we were slightly worried that the back of the screen was going to shave off a keyboard key or two. Speaking of the keyboard, those smooth, shiny chiclet keys feel pretty good, though as you'd expect the layout is a little bit cramped. When held in tablet mode the 2.18-pound device is a little heavy for one-handed use, but it's nowhere near as thick or bulky as the Dell Inspiron Duo. However, to maintain those trim dimensions, Samsung has had to cut out a full sized USB port, and instead, the device will use its mini-HDMI port -- it will come with a mini-HDMI-to-USB 2.0 adapter. It also has a MicroSD slot and 3G-card insert, and both front- and back-facing cameras. We didn't get to spend too much with Samsung's Touch Launcher, but it's one of the nicer looking Windows 7 layers we've seen in our day, and it can be launched by just touching that bright blue strip on the screen bezel. Of course, we're slightly worried that it will be sluggish, but Samsung is using Intel's forthcoming 1.5GHz Oak Trail processor, which we've heard will speed up Win 7 and improve battery life. As for the 340-nit, 1366 x 768-resolution screen itself, it was nice and bright on maximum setting, and the viewing angles seemed to be fairly decent. Unfortunately, it's also fairly glossy, so we'll have to see how it holds up outdoors. It also supports up to 16 points of contact -- we're not sure how useful that is on a ten-inch screen, but it's a nice bragging point. Samsung maintains the Sliding PC 7 Series should be hitting for $699 in May -- don't let us down Sammy, we've got dreams. %Gallery-113203%%Gallery-113045% Sam Sheffer and Sean Hollister contributed to this report. Updated: The price is said to be $699, not $599. We've heard different things on the release time frame so we're sticking to May at the moment.
Ocosmos showcases next-gen OCS1 Windows 7 handhelds at CES 2011 (video)
So, here's an interesting tale. That render that Ocosmos teased us with at the front-end of this week? The version with the slide-out QWERTY keyboard has been nixed, so those hoping and praying for a release date on that one can keep right on dreaming. But the other units are mighty real, and the company swears up and down it's on track to ship 'em both, despite not having a functioning unit here at CES. The OCS1U will be based on Intel's Oak Trail platform (1.5GHz), and if all goes well, it'll ship in the first half of this year. The device be based around Windows 7, and will be "priced competitively" compared to the iPad -- so, in other words, around $500 or so. Other specifications will include 802.11b/g/n WiFi, optional 3G, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, a 5-inch capacitive touch panel (1024 x 600), a 32GB / 64GB SSD, microSD card slot, HDMI / USB ports, an inbuilt accelerometer and front (1.3 megapixel) / rear (3 megapixel) cameras. Furthermore, both of the joystick pads -- which flank the screen on the left and right -- will be totally customizable, so they can do one thing while in a game and another while handling Office duties. The OCS1E is a screen-only affair, with the same internal configuration. In order to add joysticks to this one, you'll need either a magnetic dock or a folio case, both of which have Bluetooth joystick pads embedded. This guy's expected to ship at the end of this year or in early 2012, but it's obviously too early to estimate pricing. Take a closer look in the gallery below and the video just past the break. %Gallery-113168%
Razer Switchblade preview: 3G, Intel Oak Trail, almost definitely going on sale
Whoa, Nelly! We just made a beeline to Razer's booth here on the CES show floor, and were presented with a fairly technical talk surrounding the newly launched Switchblade. While officially deemed a concept, we came away with a serious impression that Razer's not investing loads of time and money on this just for kicks. In other words, we'd cautiously expect to see this thing on sale at some point next year -- but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. We spent a good half-hour toying with this Windows 7-based mini netbook, and we came away seriously impressed by what's happening here. Head on past the break for more of our impressions. %Gallery-113039%
Samsung Sliding PC 7 Series announced, coming in March for $699
Gloria? Are you finally with us? It sure looks like it -- Samsung has just unveiled its Sliding PC 7 Series slider and it looks to be one crazy Windows 7 tablet / laptop hybrid. Powered by Intel's 1.66GHz Z670 Oak Trail processor, the 2.2-pound tablet features a 1366 x 768-resolution, 10.1-inch 340-nit touchscreen, 32GB / 64GB SSD options, and 2GB of RAM. Obviously, this guy is running Windows 7 Home Premium at its core, but Samsung has created its own Touch Launcher that includes loads of applications that are "optimized for the touchscreen," while others will be available through Samsung's App Manager and Windows Product Scout. We're not entirely sure what the latter is all about, but we do know that this thing has a USB and HDMI ports, a 4-in-1 card reader, an ambient light sensor, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Oh, and did we mention they say it will boot in under 20 seconds and will be available with WiMax? Our biggest concern here is obviously battery life, but Samsung is claiming that its six-cell lithium-polymer will last up to nine hours on a charge. Don't let us down Sammy, for $699 this one sounds mighty good. The Sliding PC 7 Series will be hitting shelves in March, but we'll be looking to get some hands-on time with this very soon. Full press release after the break.
Fujitsu announces Intel Oak Trail-powered Windows 7 slate, Android tablet coming later this year
Given Fujitsu's long long history of making tablets it's not much of a surprise to see the company venturing into the modern-day slate business, and while there won't be a formal announcement of its 10.1-inch Windows 7 slate and future Android tablet today, the company has decided to release some details about its forthcoming touchscreen slabs here at CES. Unlike past Windows 7 slates, Fujitsu's unnamed tablet is powered by Intel's new Oak Trail Atom Z670 processor, which was designed specifically for tablets and should improve both battery life and performance. In addition to the new silicon, the 1.5-pound slate has 2GB of RAM, dual cameras, and an all-important removable battery bay that can store two- and four-cell batteries. It certainly sounds like one of the better spec'd Windows 7 tablets out there, and Fujitsu also seems to be using some sort of Windows skin (there's another picture after the break), but Fujitsu isn't only betting on a Microsoft version -- it's also planning to introduce an Android version once Honeycomb is ready for larger touchscreen devices. According to the company, the Google model won't be ready until the end of 2011, but the Windows configuration should be ready to ship early in the second quarter. Word on the street is that Fujitsu has brought a working Windows 7 unit to Vegas as well as a waterproof tablet concept so stay tuned for all sorts of zany impressions.
Motion Computing's Oak Trail-powered CL900 is one tough Win 7 tablet
Boy, have we seen a bunch of Windows 7 slates in our day -- most with delicate capacitive displays, sluggish software layers, and older Intel Atom processors -- but Motion Computing's new CL900 seems to be a totally different beast. Aimed at enterprise and vertical markets, the 10.1-inch tablet runs Windows 7 Professional and is powered by Intel's forthcoming Oak Trail Atom processor. We don't know much about that silicon performance yet, but the company's promising up to eight hours of battery life as well as 1080p playback over HDMI. However, the CL900's real appeal comes in its rugged case and screen. The 2.1-pound tablet (though, it feels a bit heavier than that in hand) has met the MIL-STD-810G spec, so it can survive a four foot drop and its Corning Gorilla Glass display should be able to withstand, oh you know, a pen stab. As for the actual 1366x768-resolution touchscreen, it has a capacitive layer, but also can be configured with an active digitizer for a really solid inking experience. We got a chance to put stylus to screen on an early model Motion was showing off and the digital writing experience seemed quite smooth and responsive. As you can see in the gallery below, the tablet is also home to two cameras, a USB port, and microSD card and SIM card slot. We told you it was spec'd to kill, but with the company promising an MSRP of less than $1,000 it could be priced to kill as well. Hit the break for the full press release and don't forget to peruse the images below. %Gallery-112568% %Gallery-112402% Updated: You'll notice that in this picture the CL900 is running ExoPC's UI layer. Motion Computing told us that it is currently experimenting with the Windows layer, but it doesn't have any formal plans to ship with it preloaded.
Lenovo goes back on its word and shows off an IdeaPad Windows 7 slate, we go hands-on
Remember when Lenovo said it wasn't going to do a Windows 7 slate product? We do too, but apparently the company has had a change of heart regarding Microsoft's operating system for tablets and has brought a 10.1-inch Windows 7 slate to CES. The IdeaPad tablet, which doesn't have a name right now, will be powered by Intel's forthcoming Oak Trail Atom processor and will run Windows 7 Home Premium with Lenovo's own application skin. We don't have any other real details on the tablet -- it isn't expected until May -- but we did get a chance to check out the touchscreen slab this morning. The build of the device was very similar to the Android Le Pad with a tapered plastic back and metal sides, but the 1280 x 800-resolution capacitive touchscreen has an active digitzer and comes with a stylus. Lenovo didn't have details on who was making that digitizer, but the battery-powered pen worked very nicely for doodling on screen and taking some test notes in WordPad. We could go on about the touch experience or we could just let you see for yourself in the video after the break. %Gallery-112534% Updated: This post now has the correct video.
ASUS 12-inch Windows 7 'Eee Slate' EP121 and more teased for 2011 (updated)
It's been awhile since we've heard anything official from ASUS about its 12-inch EP121 tablet announced back at Computex in May. That changes today as ASUS Chairman, Jonney Shih, promises an "Eee for everyone" at CES 2011 -- and that's not an exaggeration what with 7-, 9-, 10-, and 12-inch Armdroid and Wintel tablets expected. While the video doesn't show the physical EP121 first revealed as a prototype in Taipei, it does call it an "Eee Slate" (not an "Eee Pad" like before) while demonstrating pen-based input on the multitouch display riding Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system and a Core i5 processor. Naturally, ASUS is also promising better performance and more flexibility than existing tablets. Don't worry, we'll be getting hands-on with this beast in a few weeks before it hits retail sometime (somewhere) in January. Until then, you can watch the teaser after the break. Update: DigiTimes claims that the EP121 will target enterprise customers when launched. Additionally, two 10-inch Eee Pads (one with Windows 7 on Oak Trail and one with Android on Tegra 2) will hit retail as early as March for $499 to $599. Meanwhile, 7-inch Android models will also launch as early as March featuring either Tegra 2 or Qualcomm chipsets with at least one model featuring a "3.5G" radio for "phone functionality." [Thanks, Sal]
Microsoft to demo new slate PCs, Windows 8 tablet functionality at CES?
The CES 2010 Ballmernote has become something of a black mark for Microsoft -- the company's delivered almost nothing in the year after Steve demoed the HP Slate and talked about future Windows 7 Slate PCs -- but as one would assume, Redmond's expected to pick up right where it left off in just a few weeks at CES 2011. According to the New York Times, Microsoft's prepping to explain how it will target the iPad with the help of a number of partners, including Samsung and Dell. While the article is quite vague, it looks like the keynote will include a few new tablet demos, including one of a new Samsung device that sports a "slick" slide out keyboard -- we'd put money on that being the 10.1-inch Gloria. The Times says the Samsung tablet (not to be confused with the Samsung Galaxy Tab) will run some sort of software layer when "the keyboard is hiding and the device is held in portrait mode," but Microsoft's is also reportedly eschewing a central app store for native tablet apps and instead encouraging software companies to build HTML5 -based web apps. That certainly sounds a lot Google's Chrome strategy (and a strategy that could backfire since HTML5 apps will work on Chrome OS devices and iPad equally well), but the Times' source didn't know if these "apps" would be ready for CES as they are "still in production." As far as we can tell, a lot of this is still built upon Windows 7, but it's also rumored that the Redmond gang will tease Windows 8 on stage -- something that sounds extremely plausible to us, since we've heard from numerous sources that Microsoft's real tablet strategy will rely on Windows 8 and a new all-touch interface that the company has been working incredibly hard on. While Windows 8 isn't due out until the later half of 2011 / early 2012, Ballmer would do well to use his CES time to tell us about Microsoft's "riskiest" product bet and finally do something to address Microsoft's notable absence from the modern tablet market. Of course, nothing's for sure, except for the fact that we'll be there, providing live coverage of the entire thing. Update: We've been thinking about it (as well as keeping an ear on our chatty Tweeps) and there's also a chance that Microsoft could show off its own Windows 7 software layer for tablets. Either way, we're hoping to get some major answers.
MSI to reintroduce WindPad tablets at CES, claims Oak Trail improves performance and battery life
You'll remember that back at Computex MSI introduced two tablets or so-called WinPads -- there was the Windows 7 / Atom slate and another one of the Android / ARM variety. Well, MSI is planning to resurrect those with some slight improvements for CES, and this time it's gearing up to actually release them both. First up is the 10.1-inch Windows 7 Home Premium version, which will be one of the first Intel Atom Oak Trail-powered devices out there, says the company. According to MSI's Director of North American Sales Andy Tung, Intel's tablet solution does show both battery life and performance improvements over the current Atom chips, but it's "not extremely significant." Based on our discussion with Tung, we got the feeling that it's a step in the right direction for Atom but still not as long-lasting as it needs to be to compete with ARM-based tablets. Beyond that, the tablet measures less than an inch thick and will have a 1024 x 600-resolution, multitouch display, mini-HDMI and mini-USB ports, an SD card slot, and an accelerometer. Tung wasn't ready to reveal pricing, but he said it should be available in early 2011. On the Android side of things, MSI's got a dual-core Tegra 2-powered 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800-resolution slate prepped with the same selection of ports and features -- although, this one is slightly thinner and also has a drop-proof design. So, what version of Android will it run? Well, that depends on Google's timing, says Tung. If Android 3.0 or Honeycomb is available by the February / March timeframe MSI will go with that option -- however, if it's not, it will go with Gingerbread, so it can hit the market earlier in 2011. We have to say both tablets sound rather intriguing, but will they be able to go up against the hundreds of others coming at CES: The Tablet Year? We'll know more in Vegas, that's for sure!
FTC approves Intel settlement change, will let it ship Oak Trail without PCIe support
Well, it looks like Intel's settlement with the FTC isn't quite a done deal just yet -- the FTC has now announced that it's approved a change to one key measure of the settlement following a public comment period on the matter. That specifically involves Intel's Atom-based Oak Trail platform, which Intel will now be allowed to ship without PCI Express support -- as opposed to the earlier stipulation that it be required to support PCIe in order to "not limit the performance of graphics processing chips." In the short term, that basically means that Oak Trail devices (mainly tablets) likely won't have non-Intel GPUs, and that Intel will be able to continue to ship such products until June 2013. After that, the original settlement requirements will go into effect, and Intel says it is, in fact, already working on an Oak Trail successor that supports PCIe.
