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Microsoft Surface edges out Samsung in display tests

Microsoft's Surface RT tablet topped Samsung's Galaxy tablet in a "shoot-out" done by display testing firm DisplayMate Technologies.

The Surface RT's display outperformed all of the standard resolution full size 10-inch tablets that DisplayMate has tested to date in its Shoot-Out series, Raymond Soneira, president of DisplayMate Technologies, said in a research note today.

"On-screen text is significantly sharper, it has a better factory display calibration, and also significantly lower screen reflectance than the iPad 2 and all full size 1,280x800 Android tablets," Soneira said in a statement.

For example, it bested … Read more

iPad Mini LTE will ship by early next week, report says

Apple has allayed some fears by telling iPad Mini LTE buyers that their tablet will be launching soon.

Apple has contacted iPad Mini LTE buyers to inform them that the device will be shipping within the next few business days, AppleInsider is reporting, citing several e-mails forwarded to it by purchasers. Apple's e-mail says that the company will provide buyers with a tracking number "once your iPad is on the way."

Apple unveiled the iPad Mini last month and launched the Wi-Fi-only model on November 2. When Apple announced the LTE version, the company said that it … Read more

Lenovo sees 7-inch tablets vying with phones, not PCs

Lenovo expects the growing market for 7-inch tablets to compete with large-screen smartphones, not PCs.

During the company's second-quarter earnings conference call Thursday, Lenovo Chief Executive Yang Yuanqing said he had just read a report on Apple's iPad Mini and was encouraged about the trend in the tablet market.

"The market accepts the 7-inch [tablet] better than the 10-inch. That's a very strong signal, the tablet will not replace the traditional PC," he said during the conference call.

Yuanqing continued. "Probably, the tablet will compete with the large-screen smartphone rather than the PC," … Read more

Reconciling the iPad Mini with Apple's Retina obsession

The iPad Mini is an exception to Apple's Retina obsession. Will that change?

David Hsieh, an analyst at DisplaySearch, tried to answer that question in a research note today, saying that Apple has become a victim of its own marketing success.

By creating a class of super-high-resolution Retina products -- including the iPad, iPod, iPhone, and MacBook Pro -- Apple has sparked an industry-wide scramble to match or exceed the resolution of its displays.

Apple created the term "Retina display" not just as a marketing phrase, but to educate end users about high resolution. Apple has been … Read more

iPad Mini Retina rumor arrives early

Just days after the iPad Mini landed at stores and doorsteps, we have a tantalizing rumor from the Asia supply chain about a future Retina version of the 7.9-inch tablet.

Chinese-language DoNews said in a story dated November 7 that iPad Mini display maker AUO is working on a 2,048x1,536 pixel resolution display for the next iPad Mini.

That would be the same resolution of the 9.7-inch Retina display on the third- and fourth-generation iPads. And would translate to a 300-plus pixel density (versus the iPad 4's 264 pixels per inch) because you're packing … Read more

iPad 4 now in stock at Apple Store

Consumers eyeing the fourth-generation iPad can now buy one through Apple's online store without any wait time.

The Apple Store shows all three flavors of the Wi-Fi-only edition now in stock. The 16GB version goes for $499, the 32GB version for $599, and the 64GB version for $699.

The new iPad's immediate availability is a change from the earlier shipping estimate of three to five business days. The status also is the same for Apple's online stores in the U.S. and abroad, a sign that the supply of the tablet seems to have caught up with … Read more

As Nexus 10 hits the marketplace, new life is seen for Android tablet apps

The recent release of new 7- and 10-inch Nexus devices earned some of the strongest reviews yet for Android tablets. And yet along with praise for the high-resolution displays and snappy processors came a familiar complaint: there aren't enough apps.

As my colleague Roger Cheng put it: "Unfortunately, it's software, and not hardware, that continues to be the key problem for Google. Android tablets have struggled to make a real impression with consumers because there is a dearth of apps built specifically for tablets on Android. While the hardware and specs are great for the gadget enthusiasts … Read more

Battery life battle royale: Nexus vs. iPad

With all the hoopla about the relative graphics performance of the fourth-generation iPad and the Nexus 10, it's easy to forget another important performance metric: battery life.

Battery life dictates how long you can actually use the unit before it requires a recharge, so I'd say it's pretty darn important. So important in fact that it gets its own blog post. Here I pit the last two generations of iPad, the iPad Mini, the Nexus 7, and the Nexus 10 against each other in a take-no-prisoners battery blood bath! Or acid bath I guess.

The results The results speak for themselves, but if you need further explanation, continue reading after the chart. … Read more

Prizefight: Apple iPad Mini vs. Google Nexus 7

Apple's iPad Mini and Google's Nexus 7 face off in this classic confrontation for 7-inch tablet supremacy. This is going to be the most hotly contested battleground this holiday season and beyond, so which tablet is your pick?

Apple's iPad Mini brings its top-notch design with the iTunes and App Store ecosystem that makes this a force to be reckoned with in the 7-inch tablet space. The Google Nexus 7 brings arguably the most feature-packed 7-inch tablet on the market with legitimate support from the Google Play ecosystem.

Will Apple's new kid on the block take … Read more