AMD UNVEILS TABLET AND LAPTOP CHIPS LINEUP FOR 2012 AND 2013

AMD has outlined its notebook and tablet chip plans for the next two years. The major highlights are the update to the E-series and C-series laptop chips. AMD also plans to update its Z-series processors for tablets.

The new laptop processors will bear the code name Brazos 2.0. Much like the existing Brazos 1.0 processors, they too will have a TDP of 9 to 18 watts. The new chips will also

LINUX-BASED SPARK TABLET TO SHIP IN MAY FOR $265

A 7 inch Linux-based tablet called Spark will be up for pre-order starting next week. It is expected to start shipping in May. The tablet was unveiled by one of the developers last week.

The Spark is essentially a rebranded version of the Zenithink C71 tablet. It will first ship in Europe. It will run Mer, a community based version of MeeGo Linux operating system with the KDE Plasma Active

REFURBISHED KINDLE FIRE TABLETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR JUST $179

The Amazon Kindle Fire is already one of the cheapest Android tablets on the market. It runs just $200 and according to the folks at Amazon it has been selling exceptionally well ever since its launch. Now Amazon is offering refurbished models of the tablet for $179. Just like the new models, the refurbished models too have the same 1 year warranty. That means by buying the refurbished model you

SPRINT TO OFFER ZTE OPTIK TABLET FOR $99.99 WITH CONTRACT

US wireless carrier Sprint will start offering a 7 inch Android tablet on February 5th for $99.99. That is the price you will need to pay when you sign up for a 2-year service contract with the carrier. Data plans for the tablet start at $19.99 per month.


The tablet under discussion is the ZTE Optik tablet with a 7 inch, 1280 x 800 pixels display. It has a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8600

SAMSUNG CAN CONTINUE SELLING ITS GALAXY TAB 10.1N IN GERMANY

Now that Samsung has won yet another round in its ongoing legal battle with Apple, it can continue selling its Galaxy Tab 10.1N in Germany. This is not the final verdict, but for the time being it is indeed a victory for Samsung.

The Galaxy Tab 10.1N is a slightly modified version of the original Galaxy Tab 10.1. The major difference between the two models is design-related.


The Galaxy Tab

ASUS UNVEILS N46, N56 AND N76 MULTIMEDIA NOTEBOOKS

Asus has launched three new notebooks in its N6 series. The multi-media oriented Asus N46, N56 and N76 were all on display at CES early in January.

The notebooks have Intel 3rd generation Ivy Bridge Core i5 or i7 processors and NVIDIA GeForce 500 series discrete graphics. Optional features include Blu-ray optical drives. As their name indicates, the Asus N46 has a 14 inch display while the N56

SUPPORT FOR ANDROID APPS COMING TO BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK

RIM, makers of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, is expected to launch the much awaited PlayBook OS 2.0 later this month. The new version of the operating system will add features such as a new calendar, contact and email apps.

The beta version of the PlayBook OS 2.0 which has been available for a while also includes an Android App Player which allows you to install Android apps that have been

HP PLANS TO UPDATE ITS CONSUMER NETBOOKS WITH CEDAR TRAIL PROCESSORS

HP plans to update its consumer-oriented netbooks with Intel’s Cedar Trail processors. The company recently introduced a business netbook with the Intel Atom N2600 Cedar Trail processor.

The existing HP netbooks which are expected to get Cedar Trail update include the HP Mini 110 and HP Mini 210. A certain French retailer has already started listing them with Intel’s third generation Cedar

ULTRABOOKS COULD START AT $499: ACER

Ultrabooks are powerful computers that are just as portable as netbooks. Most of these machines sport 13.3 inch displays and don’t weigh more than a typical netbook. What’s more, they have full-sized keyboards and powerful processors. On the flip side, ultrabooks cost as much as, if not more than, mainstream laptops. Of course, due to this high price tag they are not as popular as netbooks, but

AT&T TAKING PRE-ORDERS FOR SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a cross between a smartphone and a tablet. This 5.3 inch Android device has a 1280 x 800 pixels Super AMOLED display and a stylus for making precise writings or drawings. But unlike a conventional tablet, this machine can also make phone calls. It is a bit large for a tablet, but you should be able to slide it into your pocket provided that you have larger than usual

SAMSUNG BUILDING AN 11.6 INCH TABLET

Samsung is reportedly working on an 11.6 inch Galaxy Tab tablet. Word is that some people actually saw the machine back stage at CES, but they weren’t allowed to take photographs.

If sources are to be believed the Galaxy Tab 11.6 is meant to compete with the iPad 3. It will have a 1GHz quad-core processor with an ARM-based A15 Exynos processor. The concept design has a 5 megapixel rear facing

WINDOWS 8 FOR ARM-PROCESSORS COMING TO DEVELOPERS

At CES earlier this month, Microsoft showed off Windows 8 running on ARM-based tablets. Windows 8 is the first version of the Microsoft OS compatible with ARM-based processors. It won’t be available to public until the second half of this year, but CNET reports that an early version of the OS for ARM will be available to developers in February.

Windows 8 for ARM features Microsoft’s new

ULTRABOOKS WITH NEXT GEN NVIDIA GRAPHICS COMING

Ultrabooks are thin and light laptops sporting Intel’s latest processors. Intel has copyright over the term ultrabook. That means you can’t find an ultrabook with an AMD processor. That, however, doesn’t mean that ultrabooks can’t have discrete graphics just because Intel doesn’t make them.


Fudzilla reports that some of the upcoming ultrabooks could have NVIDIA’s next-gen Kepler graphics. The