My blog about tablet pc android and smartphones

iPad Smart Cover is a very good and unique interaction function. But when the new iPad is added the Touch ID function, Smart Cover function is becoming useless for users. Now, both new iPad and iPhone can support Touch ID function. Maybe Touch ID is a good function for iPhone since we have to take our iPhone out everyday. Touch ID function can protect our privacy well. But for iPad, it is not so useful.

Many people don't take their iPad out, so Smart Cover function is more simple and convenient for users. Many users like Smart Cover since it can unlock the iPad automatically. But for iPad Air 2, when you enable Touch ID function, Smart Cover function become very complicated.

Touch ID is quite a good function when we buy apps from Apple Store or iTunes. If Touch ID function is only enabled when you buy app online or log-in for third party app, it will be very good.

But we have to say Touch ID function is quite useful and safe for enterprise users. It can protect your commercial privacy well. But for our regular users, usually, we consider more about convenience, not security. Touch ID is good for Apple Store, but not good to unlock your iPad.

Today, the tablets sales target of ASUS is 9.4 million pieces, compared with 12 million pieces of last year, it is about 22% less. Next year, ASUS is scheduled to simplify its product lines, and trying to bring the sales back to 12 million pieces.

Now, ASUS has three product lines including Transfer Pad, Fonepad, and Memo Pad this year. Next year, ASUS will cut the product lines and will only include Trasfer Pad and Zenpad. And Fonepad will be included in its 2nd generation smart phone product line.

The target of ASUS next year is Less is More. It will focus more on its hero products, and keep its leading position on 3 in 1 tablets market.

As the demand of tablets is reduced from the end of last year, many tablets suppliers start to develop 2 in one or 3 in one tablets. And consumers also prefer such tablets more nowadays.

In the IFA 2014 trade show, Sony displayed one 8 inch tablet pc, Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. After the show, we have made a special report about this tablet. Three months later, this tablet is finally available for sale in Taiwan.

This Xperia Z3 adopts one 8 inch IPS screen, resolution is 1920*1080 pixels. CPU is Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad core, adding on the 3GB RAM and 16GB flash memory, its performance is really excellent. This unit comes with dual cameras, the front camera is 2.2M pixels, and rear camera is 8.1M pixels. It can support memory extension by TF card. Unit runs Android 4.4 OS, and battery capacity is 4500Mah.

What is available in Taiwan is the Xperia Z3 LTE edition, Its price is about 410 euros in Taiwan. Sony did not tell when this tablet will land Spain.

The day before yesterday, Allwinner announced that its A33 quad core, A83T octa core, A80 octa core processors are upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop OS. These processors will be upgraded to Android 5.0 OS in Dec at soonest.

Allwinner A33 is the most cost effective and low power consumption processor. It is based on the Cortex A7 and Mali 400 MP2 GPU. It can encode 1080P@60fps videos perfectly, and support 1280*800 pixels resolution. Now, HP and other well known brand names have already launched their tablets with Allwinner A33 quad core processor. And this A33 will be firstly upgraded to Android 5.0 OS. If you own a tablet with A33 processor, you can enjoy the latest Android OS in advance.

Allwinner A83T is one octa core processor for HD tablets. It adopts the 28nm process technology. It is based on the Cortex A7 framework, and GPU is the Imagination SGX544. CPU frequency is 2.0GHz. GPU frequency is 700MHz. It can also support video decoding in 1080P@60fps. And support 1920*1200 pixels panel.

Allwinner A80 is also one octa core processor based on Cortex A15/7. It adopts the Imagination G6230 GPU. I can support 4K video decoding. Till now, it is one of the most powerful octa core processor in market.

Android 5.0 Lollipop OS is the biggest update recently. Google has improved the interface, performance, power consumption etc.

You can click following link to see the video. The tablet is video is coming with Cortex A80 octa core processor and Android 5.0 OS.

Ubuntu operation system is one OS special for mobile phone and tablets. It has made some interaction design for tablet or smart phone operation system. But it is not widely adopted by manufacturers. Till now, Ubuntu only released the ROM for Nexus smart phone and tablets. In China, there is only one supplier adopting Ubuntu OS. But the situation may be changed soon. A company named Nikki Wertish is connecting money online and wants to develop UbuTab based on Ubuntu operation system.

This UbuTab owns one 10.1 inch IPS screen. Screen resolution is 1920*1200 pixels. CPU is one quad core Cortex A9 processor. Frequency is 1.6GHz. RAM is 2GB. It can support HDMI video out, and TF card slot. Regarding flash memory, it has two editions, one is 1TB and another is 2TB. Battery capacity is 11000Mah. Battery life is over 6 hours. Unit can run Ubuntu and Android OS.

This unit is only 7mm thickness. Ubuntu said if they can succeed collecting money over 40 thousand US dollars, then they can add the Qi wireless recharge function for this tablet.

In middle of this month, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 have already received the OTA package to upgrade to Android 5.0. And several days before, following Google, Nvidia has upgraded its Shield tablet wifi edition to Android 5.0 OS. And today, its LTE edition already received the upgrade package. Till today, all the Shield Tablets have already been upgraded to Android 5.0.

This upgrade includes, Support Micro USB Host OTG Y, unit can be recharged when connected with ADSL, support 4K video output. improve the performance and compatibility of charger, and refine the GPS function.

If you have owned the 32GB LTE edition Shield Tablet, then you will have Half Live 2 and Portal for free.

As we know, Nvidia Shield Tablet adopts the Nvidia Tegra K1 processor. Another tablet which is also adopting K1 processor, MIUI tablet, has not received the upgrade pack till now.

Jolla is established by some staff working in Nokia before. Now, it has already launched a smart phone and tablet. The smart phone is already sold out. The tablet is also collecting money successfully. And it will be available for sale in US, China, and other countries.

As news from Jolla, this tablet has already collected over 1.25 million US dollars, its target is only 380 thousand US dollars. Jolla said this tablet will be only for sale in US, Europe, China, Russia, India and HK. But as the demand from people, now, it will be also available for sale in Canada and Australia.

If you want to buy this Jolla tablet, you can go to ontablets.es to reserve one. You only need to pay for 209 US dollars. This Jolla tablet will be available for next May. That means you have to wait half year.

This Jolla tablet adopts the 64 bit Intel Atom processor, 2GB RAM and 32GB flash memory. Screen size is 7.85 inch, and resolution is 2048*1536 pixels. The front camera is 2M pixels, and rear camera is 5M pixels. Battery capacity is 4300Mah. It runs Sailfish 2.0 operation system.

In 2014, the Intel Mobile dept has burnt a lot of money, and has a big loss in past months. But Intel is still very confident of the future. As Intel said, in 2015, the SoFIA chipset will be launched in 2015, and it will help increase the sales of Intel mobile phones. This morning, ontablets.es showed us one latest Intel Roadmap for 2015.

SoFIA will be the key for Intel to enter low end market of smart phones. It is firstly integrated with baseband. And there will be four different editions available, 3G dual core, 4G quad core, and LTE quad core, 14nm LTE quad core. This processor can be adopted in smart phones, tablets and phablets.

In meanwhile, Intel has cooperated with Rockchip, and Spreadtrum to enter low end market.

Regarding the baseband, Intel has already owned the XMM7260 which can support Cat.6. It is already adopted in Samsung Alpha smart phones. Next year, the new generation, XMM7360 will be available, supporting Cat.10. It is similar as Qualcomm Gobi 9X45.

At the beginning of next year, Intel tablets and smart phones will still reply on 22nm Bay Trail, and Moorefiled, then the 14nm processor will be available. The processor for tablets is named Cherry Trail, CPU framework is Airmont, it is a quad core processor. For smart phones, it is Broxton, CPU framework is Goldmont, it is also one quad core processor.

In the 4th quarter of this year, we will see the Intel SoFIA 3G dual core processor, it is based on the Intel X86 framework, and integrates 3G baseband. In the first half of 2015, it will be upgraded to quad core. In the middle of 2015, Intel will launch SoFIA LTE processor. All of these are based on 22nm process.

Subor has already disappeared for quite a log time. About 10 or 15 years ago, Subor is a well known brand name from China. In last month, Subor has launched its first smart phone, Dream X. Following that, today, Ontablets disclosed a 7 inch tablet from Subor. But from our information, this new tablet is just one entry level unit.

This new tablet is Subor S1. It adopts one 7 inch IPS screen. Resolution is 1280*800 pixels. The frequency of CPU is 1.3GHz. But Subor did not tell which CPU is adopted, a dual core or a quad core. RAM is 1GB, flash memory is 8GB. The front camera is 5M pixels, and rear camera is 8M pixels. Users can extend memory by a TF card, and the unit can support 3G network. Unit runs Android 4.2.2 OS. Its price is less than 100 US dollars.

Till now, we can not make sure when this new tablet will be available for sale. But from the above information, the performance of this Subor S1 is not so good. If just used to watch videos or surf internet, it is OK.

Recently, Ontablets released a report about the tablet sales in China for 3rd quarter of 2014. In 3rd quarter, the total sales in China is about 5.45 million pieces. Compared with last year, it is increased by 25%. But compared with 1st and 2nd quarter, increase is already reduced.

The top three tablets brands are iPad, Samsung, and Lenovo. iPad has about 56.3% market share, Samsung is 11.6%, Lenovo is 9.4%. And MIUI ranked 4th, its first tablet was launched in July.

The sales of tablets in 1st and 2nd quarter is increased by 48% and 53.8% compared with last year. But in 3rd quarter, it is reduced to 25%. The main reason is iPad sales is reduced. But the sales of Android tablets is increased a bit.

Now, the market demand is reduced. It is faced the competition from laptop, and big screen smart phones, and can not find the right position in market. That is why the sales is reduced in 3rd quarter. And the situation may keep on in following months or years.