Videocon has launched another budget Android tablet in the Indian market – Videocon VT71. The tablet is available online for Rs 4,799/-
The tablet runs on 1.2GHz processor and is powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS out-of-the-box.
The all-new Videocon VT71 tablet features a 7-inch screen with resolution of 800x480p. It has 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32GB with microSDcard. The device’s connectivity features include Wi-Fi, microUSB and 3G (via dongle). The tablet has a 3200 mAh battery.
[quote]Khalid Zamir, Head Product Planning and Development, Videocon Mobile Phone, said, “The Videocon VT71 is aimed towards the emerging tablet market of the country which is on an unprecedented growth spiral as of today, and will become one of the lead generators of revenue in the telecommunications market, going forward. Through the engaged device, we seek to create an immersive tablet experience for the discerning consumer, and afford him the best of multimedia experience on a 7-inch device. The announcement of the VT71 is an endeavour to expand the product portfolio of the segment and embark upon a pertinent customer engagement program wherein by affording them the range of tablet devices, we seek to bring about an engaged tablet experience to them.”[/quote]
The company had launched the VT10 with a 10-inch IPS display last month for Rs. 10,999. Its 10-incher also showed a decent spec sheet including 8GB internal memory, 32Gb expandable memory with microSD card slot, support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HDMI.
Videocon VT71 Specifications
7-inch (800 x 480 pixels) capacitive multi-touch display
1.2 GHz Rockchip RK2918 processor
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) OS
12.5 mm thick, weight 181 grams
0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera
512MB RAM, 4 GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 32GB with micro SD
3G (via USB Dongle), WiFi b/g/n, USB 2.0, USB OTG support, HDMI out
On Monday, Samsung’s vice-president announced that the Galaxy Note 8.0 would be formally announced at this year’s Mobile World Congress at the end of February. Excitement has clearly gone around the company, enough for an alleged picture of the new device, as well as its hardware specifications, to leak online via a Twitter account of Spanish language classifieds website which has not hesitated to spread the word and win its fair share of publicity.
This new size of tablet joins the plethora of other Samsung tablets, but comes in with a different design. Taking shape from the Galaxy S III and Note II, the Note 8.0 looks to be incredibly thin and has curved corners. According to the Italian site dday.it they state that “We are holding the picture of what seems to be the new Samsung tablet, do not know whether a prototype or the final version (but it seems to be).”
As for the specs, the Note 8.0 has an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800, a 1.6Ghz quad-core processor, 5MP camera on the back with a 1.3MP fron-facing camera, 16GB or 32GB versions (3G, Wi-Fi), runs Android OS 4.2 Jelly Bean, 4600 mAh battery, 330 grams and overall dimensions are expected to be 211.3 x 136.3 x 7.95mm. Finally, the S-Pen is located at the bottom right of the Note 8.0. No word on when the 8.0 will be available or potential price points, but this will be showcased at the upcoming Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
According to rumours, Samsung will launch two versions of the tablet, depending on the connectivity suite. While model number GT-N5100 will have cellular data as well as Wi-Fi, the version named GT-N5110 will be a Wi-Fi-only unit. Other connectivity options in the device will be Bluetooth 4.0 and microUSB 2.0. The tablet is said to weigh 330gm and run on a 4,600mAh battery.
HCL Infosystems Ltd., launched its latest 3G enabled tablet –HCL ME Y2 priced competitively at Rs 14,999. This third generation tablet from HCL is a trendy and stylish device, based on the latest OS and designed specially to suit the needs of the Indian consumers.
The HCL ME Y2 is packed with applications and special offers. The Hungama Application comes with a special offer for HCL ME Y2 customers – free three months subscription to download and play unlimited music, videos and ringtones. Bigflix again offers unlimited streaming of movies for a month for just Rs. 1. The Y2 also has the ThinkFree Office Mobile that enables the user to create, view, edit or share MS Office docs. The HCL tablet also has useful applications like LinkedIn, Twitter, 3D Digital Weather Clock, Games, Sweet’ N ‘Spicy (huge collection of Indian Foods and Recipe), iBrowser (makes downloading and browsing on the tablet easy and smooth), ICS Browser (to view multiple open pages at once), Bollywood Hungama and Saavn (to listen to Bollywood and Indian music).
[quote]Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gautam Advani, EVP & Head, Mobility, HCL Infosystems Ltd. said, “The HCL ME Y2 is yet another value product from our company. This third generation tablet delivers enhanced experiences to our customers through advanced connectivity and innovative features. With the growth in tablet market and increasing adoption, on-the-go connectivity has become vital and the ME Y2 promises seamless connectivity with great user interface. The Y2 is yet another innovation from HCL and we expect it to meet the growing demand of our diverse customers to meet their specific use cases on the tablet.”[/quote]
The new HCL ME Y2 offers 3G connectivity with its in-built SIM slot. Based on Android OS 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the device is equipped with a 2-mega pixel rear camera and a 0.3-mega pixel front camera which enables video chatting with HD display. The tablet sports a 7-inch multi touch capacitive screen with a 1024*600 pixel display. The tablet runs smoothly on a powerful Cortex A9 and 1 Ghz processor. It comes with a 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory, along with a memory card slot that can add another 32 GB. HCL ME Y2 also has a mini USB, mini HDMI and a Micro SD card slot. It has a robust 4000 mAH battery to deliver long hours of high definition audio and video playback. The Y2 is enabled with bluetooth and also provides for wi-fi connectivity.
The HCL ME Y2 will be supported by an integrated back up service – HCL Touch, a 24X7 one touch service facility. HCL ME Y2 tablet will be available in stores in Delhi and across the country from today onwards.
Specifications
Check out the Press Release below :
[toggle_box title=”Press Release” width=”Width of toggle box”]
HCL Infosystems launches its 3G Tablet – the HCL ME Y2
Attractive Pricing of Rs.14,999/- & 3G enabled with in-built SIM slot and Wi-Fi connectivity
Powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS and equipped with Dual camera
Stylized with full HD, enhanced performance and rich entertainment features
Special Offers on Pre loaded and handpicked applications for the Indian consumer
Backed by the unmatched HCL support and service infrastructure spread over 4000+ cities, the Y2 also loaded with a one touch service application on the tablet – HCL Touch
New Delhi, August 13, 2012: HCL Infosystems Ltd., India’s premier hardware, services and ICT Systems Integration and Distribution Company, launched its latest 3G enabled tablet –HCL ME Y2. Combining unique features, content and connectivity, the HCL ME Y2 promises an exciting experience to its users. This third generation tablet from HCL is a trendy and stylish device, based on the latest OS and designed specially to suit the needs of the Indian consumers.
The HCL ME Y2 is packed with applications and special offers to suit the requirements of the Indian consumer. The Hungama Application comes with a special offer for HCL ME Y2 customers – free three months subscription to download and play unlimited music, videos and ringtones. Bigflix again offers unlimited streaming of movies for a month for just Rs. 1. The Y2 also has the ThinkFree Office Mobile that enables the user to create, view, edit or share MS Office docs. The HCL tablet also has useful applications like LinkedIn, Twitter, 3D Digital Weather Clock, Games, Sweet’ N ‘Spicy (huge collection of Indian Foods and Recipe), iBrowser (makes downloading and browsing on the tablet easy and smooth), ICS Browser (to view multiple open pages at once), Bollywood Hungama and Saavn (to listen to Bollywood and Indian music). Along with the pre-loaded apps, The Y2 also has an exclusive access to the ME App store which has over 15000 applications capturing the latest and the best android apps in the world for the tablet users.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Gautam Advani, EVP & Head, Mobility, HCL Infosystems Ltd. said, “The HCL ME Y2 is yet another value product from our company. This third generation tablet delivers enhanced experiences to our customers through advanced connectivity and innovative features. With the growth in tablet market and increasing adoption, on-the-go connectivity has become vital and the ME Y2 promises seamless connectivity with great user interface. The Y2 is yet another innovation from HCL and we expect it to meet the growing demand of our diverse customers to meet their specific use cases on the tablet.”
The new HCL ME Y2 offers 3G connectivity with its in-built SIM slot and is priced competitively at Rs 14,999. Based on the super fast Android OS 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the device is equipped with a 2-mega pixel rear camera and a 0.3-mega pixel front camera which enables video chatting with HD display. The tablet sports a 7-inch multi touch capacitive screen with a 1024*600 pixel display. The tablet runs smoothly on a powerful Cortex A9 and 1 Ghz processor. It comes with a 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal memory, along with a memory card slot that can add another 32 GB. HCL ME Y2 also has a mini USB, mini HDMI and a Micro SD card slot. It has a robust 4000 mAH battery to deliver long hours of high definition audio and video playback. The Y2 is enabled with bluetooth and also provides for wi-fi connectivity.
The HCL ME Y2 will be supported by an integrated back up service – HCL Touch, a 24X7 one touch service facility. HCL ME Y2 tablet will be available in stores in Delhi and across the country from today onwards.
About HCL Infosystems:
HCL Infosystems Ltd, with revenue (LTM) of US$ 2.4 billion (Rs.10,754 crores) is India’s premier hardware, services and ICT systems integration company offering a wide spectrum of ICT products that includes Computing, Storage, Networking, Security, Telecom, Imaging and Retail. HCL is a one-stop-shop for all the ICT requirements of an organization. India’s leading System Integration and Infrastructure Management Services Organization, HCL has specialized expertise across verticals including Telecom, BFSI, eGovernance & Power. HCL has India’s largest distribution and retail network, taking to market a range of Digital Lifestyle products in partnership with leading global ICT brands, including Apple, Cisco, Ericsson, Kingston, Kodak, Konica Minolta, Microsoft, Nokia, Toshiba, and many more. HCL today has India’s largest vertically integrated computer manufacturing facility with over three decades of electronic manufacturing experience & HCL desktops is the largest selling brand into the enterprise space. With India’s largest ICT services network that reaches to every corner of India, HCL’s award winning Support Services makes it the preferred choice of enterprise and consumers, alike. For more information please visit us at www.hclinfosystems.in
Pantel Technologies has launched a new 8-inch tablet PC – Penta T-Pad WS802C – that comes bundled with a 3G data plan of 2GB from BSNL valid over a period of 60 days.
Priced at Rs 14,699 , it runs on Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The tablet features an 8-inch capacitive touch screen and is powered by a 1GHz processor and 512MB DDRII RAM. Penta T-Pad Tablet PC, the WS802C, is portable and acts as a brillianthandheld tablet PC, according to the company. The tablet supports 1080P HD videos via HDMI and comes with a built-in GPS, 3G SIM slot and Wi-Fi option.
The tablet comes pre-loaded with several games such as Angry Birds and Wow Fish, and applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Talking Tom, Google Maps, and Skype video calling and e-book facilities.
The new version of Micromax’s popular tablet Funbook, Funbook Pro, has hit the retail online shelves. The tablet, which is yet to be launched officially, is available at online Retailers for Rs 9,999.
The tablet has a 10.1 inch TFT LCD capacitive touch screen display (1,024×600 pixel resolution) and runs on the latest Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating system. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz Cortex A-8 processor (with Dual Mali 400- 2D/3D Graphics processor for multimedia processing) and comes with 1 GB RAM. The internal memory of the device is 8GB, which is expandable up to an additional 32GB with a microSD card.
The device features a front facing VGA camera for video calling. On the connectivity front, the tablet has Wi-Fi and it comes with a microSD port, USB port and a HDMI port, which means it will support HD video playback.
The exact dimensions of the device were not available, but the company has provided a 5,600 mAh battery in the device, which should offer decent battery life.
Micromax Funbook Pro is available in Slate Grey colour and comes with Tata Docomo+ data card for free.
According to a product listing on the retail website Flipkart, the Lava E-Tab Z7H will be sold for INR 5,499. This will be an Ice Cream Sandwich tablet with a 7-inch screen and will feature a 1.2GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB of internal memory, 2800 mAh battery and 3G dongle support. There is also 0.3 megapixel camera on board.
Lava had recently become the first company to launch an Intel processor powered smartphone in the country as well as world in the form of XOLO X900.
Its been 2 years since Steve Jobs got up on stage with a device that would change the way we look at portable computing forever. Since it launch, the iPad has held the crown as the most loved Tablet, with multimillion units sold each quarter. Now with the iPad 3, around the corner one can only wonder if Apple will continue to hold the lead over the competition. A kind of competition that never hindered them, there has been no real problem for Apple except the launch of the Amazon Kindle, but thats a story for another day.
Lets look at why we feel the iPad 3, if keeps up with claims, will be another tablet of the year.
Build and Form Factor
Since the beginning the iPad has been the only tablet in a unibody aluminum shell, the sheer feel of the tablet exudes to the effect of a premium device. Slim and well weighted the tablet is robust in construction and not easily destroyed, especially if you take care of the 9.7 inch display in front which can be extremely fragile.
The iPad was a wonderful device to hold in the hand, typing was easy – better in portrait and possible in landscape, it was not the most comfortable device to hold single handedly. The iPad 2 changed that completely, with a newer design that fit better, was lighter and had improvements to software which also made single hand operation easy ( gestures).
The iPad 3 is supposedly going to be built on the same platform as the iPad 2 with a small thickness increase, something that will not bother the buyer.
OS and Apps
When the original iPad was launched people called it an oversized iPod touch, possibly because the iOS was the same iOS as on an iPhone or iPod touch. Things have changed since then and Apple has added a bucket load of goodies to make the OS more a powerhouse for the best selling tablet. The OS is streamlined to make the iPad a pseudo-personal computer, with iCloud – data handling and synchronization has never been easier.
iOS for iPad also has better custom apps including professional creative apps from companies like Adobe, including Photoshop, Office apps from Apple themselves: iWork with pages, keynote and numbers for easy as pie office documentation.
Customizations to the OS, like a split keyboard and gesture navigation, make it really easy to use the tablet and no other company has been able to replicate the process in an easy streamlined manner.
The iOS platform also has the largest number of Apps on a mobile OS platform, with mostly all apps compatible with the iPad the entertainment and quality of games on the iPad still remains unmatched.
The iPad 3 is said to feature a major OS upgrades for the tablet including a main feature that is Siri on the iPad, which is already possible if you own a jailbroken iPad, but an official version will be well accepted and appreciated.
Hardware
The new iPad 3 is supposedly coming with a bumped up processor(A6 or the rumored A5X), which is supposedly carrying a new quad core processor with an advanced GPU, which will -or should improve performance by atleast 10 times. The new display will be a retina display (246 ppi : not true retina) with a double resolution ( 2048 x 1536 px) compared to the existing iPad /iPad 2, which will not only improve the media quality on the iPad, but also make it an excellent Book Reader, especially considering the new iBooks upgrade.
There are also claims of a network capability boost in the iPad 3, where some rumors point to a 4G/ LTE equipped iPad chipset, others claim that it will be a unified global device capable of CDMA/GSM network capabilities in the same device.
Apart from the above obvious upgrades, speculations of more ram and upgraded camera optics along with better speakers are also in the mix. So expect HD FaceTime and better speakers for your iPad 3s.
Games and Apps will perform better and open faster, seamless integration with iCloud will sync all your devices and keep them up to date. Apple may also bump to storage capacities to a possible 128 GB iPad.
Availability
The industry is buzzing with news of the iPad 3s release date, almost everyone claims that its going to be announced on the 7th of March 2012 with availability within 2 weeks.
Conclusion
Arguably, the iPad is not the best tablet in the market, but truly its the only one that has sold units in numbers close to PC sales. The Apple ecosystem developed by iOS – iCloud and Mac OS make it an Apple owners delight, somethings are just better on the iPad. Agreed Android offers more flexibility but the platform is still very fragmented. Even with ICS, android is laggy and the overall interface is not nearly as smooth as iOS.
If Amazon does come out with a 10 inch tablet, you can expect it to eat heavily into Apple’s share of the profit pie, only because Amazon will price it aggressively. Windows 8 / Windows Phone Apollo Tabs could also be another factor ( if ever released) .
Unless something truly unique is outed by manufacturers ( possibly a 10 inch Galaxy Note) no one will be able to bother Apple iPad sales, and the new iPad 3 will continue to lead the way through 2012.
