Is Samsung giving up on netbooks next year

An email sent by Samsung to its trading partners appears to shut down any prospect of the manufacturer producing new netbooks after the first quarter of 2012. The email is quoted by French site Blogeee and says that Samsung will switch its focus to 11.6- and 12-inch ultraportables as well as Intel Ultrabooks. The quote does not preclude some of those ultraportables running cheaper processors such as Cedar Trail, which would arguably just make them slightly larger next-gen netbooks, but it does specifically mention the abandonment of the 10.1-inch form factor. Here's our translation:

"Following the introduction of our new strategy in 2012, we will discontinue our 10.1-inch (netbook) product range in Q1 2012, in favor of ultraportables (11.6 and 12 inches) and ultrabooks to be launched in 2012."

Kobo eReader Touch Edition review

The ebook reader market is a funny one, because it has been typically dominated by a couple of companies. With the Amazon Kindle and the Sony Readers being the most popular devices.
The real difference between these devices is content. Amazon distribute its content from its own store. It's a closed system, but one that's widely accessible thanks to apps for your PC or smartphone. Sony (and many others) on the other hand offer open format support, but don't then have the provision across platforms, or the same integrated bookstore experience.
Kobo has been active in the ebook market for some time, probably familiar to those smartphone users who might have seen the app preinstalled on their device. With the Kobo eReader, the company is moving from purely content to hardware and the content to read, so like Amazon, it gets to provide a more complete solution. In the UK this is aided by partnering with WHSmith, giving Kobo a high street presence and storefront through the WHSmith website.

Hardware

The Kobo eReader is well built, finished with an interesting "quilted" back. Don't worry, it isn't actual quilt, but the plastic feels sturdy enough. The diamond patterning is surprisingly nice to hold, giving your fingers a little something extra to hang on to. It weighs 185g, a touch heavier than the new Amazon Kindle, but lighter than the Kindle Touch which is available in the US.

The Kobo eReader has a 6-inch E-Ink display, and like most other models, will slip easily into a jacket pocket or bag. In terms of connections, there is a micro USB on the bottom and a slot on the side to take a microSD card to expand the memory, if you wish. Buttons are kept to a minimum, with a top power slider and a single home button beneath the screen. Operation is by touch, so there is no need for anything else.

Getting content

The Kobo eReader requires you to have a Kobo account to sync the device. It isn't as independent as the Kindle - which offers PC-free operation - as getting started with the Kobo eReader requires to you download their software on your PC or Mac and connect to your device.
If you already have a Kobo account then you are good to go, you just have to plug in your details in the application on your computer and any existing content you have purchased from Kobo will appear, ready to sync to the reader. If you don't have any existing titles, you can head off and buy them through the desktop application and we're pleased to see that PayPal is a payment option across the Kobo store, making things really simple.

The WHSmith ebook store is now powered by Kobo too, so if you head over to the website to buy titles, they will automatically find their way into your Kobo account, so can be synced to devices.
But the beauty of having a Wi-Fi device is that you don't need to use your computer every time you want to buy a new book to read. The store is easy enough to navigate on the Kobo eReader, accessed via the home page of the device. You can search or browse at will, with a section offering free books, which are mostly same collection of classics you can get elsewhere. If you want to sample a book you can download a preview.
If you buy a book from the Kobo store, it's available to all areas of Kobo's reach, so that's on your eReader, your desktop and any mobile device on the same account. You don't need to connect to your computer, so effectively, once you've done the initial setup on the eReader, you won't have to connect it again, so long as you stick to Kobo's bookstore.
As such, it's very much like the Amazon Kindle. It offers bookmark syncing across devices, so you can continue reading on your phone where you left off on your eReader and vice-versa.

However it does have a trick up its sleeve, in that this is a regular EPUB ebook reader, so you aren't restricted to Kobo's own bookstore. The experience is better if you do, but if you've already purchased a collection of EPUB titles then once you have authorised your Kobo eReader with Adobe Digital Editions you'll be able to read those books too.
This potentially gives you more freedom than Amazon's system, because you can choose where you get your books from, you can shop around find the best price and so on. The downside is that you don't get the syncing functions, so if you move on your own EPUB books these aren't then mirrored on other devices: you'd have to manually add them.

Snuggle down with a good book

When it comes to actually reading books, the Kobo eReader E-Ink screen offers great contrast and letters are crisp and well formed. You can change the size of the text to suit your preference and you can also change the font. There are dictionary functions and you can highlight sections of text to either mark, or rather uniquely, share to Facebook.

To turn the page you need to swipe across it, or tap at the edge. Page turning is fast enough, although we've found that we sometimes turned pages with a stray finger by accident when handling the eReader.
E-Ink displays offer two distinct advantages of LCD displays you get on tablets. The first is that they aren't glossy, so you can happily read the Kobo eReader outdoors or in bright conditions, perfect for reading beside the pool on holiday. Secondly, as there is no backlighting, they are very efficient with battery life.
You'll get around a month of life from the battery, although this is governed by how much reading you do. Of course, the Wi-Fi will chomp through the battery much faster than this, so it's worth engaging the flight-safe mode when you don't need to be connected.

Extra, extra, read all about it!

There are a few extras hiding in the Kobo eReader too. There is a browser so if you want to you can browse the Internet, although it's a little slow and navigation is rather tricky. It's a last resort really and if you have a smartphone you'd be much better off using that. You also get a sketchbook and Sudoku game.
One of the more up-front features is the social side of the Kobo eReader. From the home page you'll find a Reading Life section. This is basically a sort of achievements system, where you can earn awards by taking particular actions. Some of these awards are designed to get you trying things, like getting information from the store. There is also a stats page, so you can see how many books you have read, how many hours you've read for and the number of page turns.

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Verdict

We've seen a number of ebook readers that, although technically proficient, don't always impress. With the Kobo eReader we're more impressed because there is a whole system to explore and the service rivals that offered by the Amazon Kindle. If there is one feature missing it's accepting library loans, which is something that currently only the Sony Readers do in the UK.
So with the Kobo eReader being a competitive choice, can we fully recommend it? Well there is another issue that needs to be taken into account: price. The Kobo touch will cost you £109 from WHSmith, which is the same as the Amazon Kindle keyboard. The cheapest Kindle matches the price of the Kobo Wireless eReader, a non-touch device, so it has been competitively priced too.
But you also have to consider content cost and availability. Glancing across a few new titles in the Kindle and Kobo stores we found that prices were similar, occasionally with some cheaper editions in the Kindle Store. It's worth searching for your favourite authors to see how well stocked different stores are, but remember that you'll be able to buy from any EPUB book store on the Internet with the Kobo eReader.
Overall a great little ebook reader and we'll worth considering if you want an alternative to Amazon's offering.

Dell posts inaccurate graphics card comparison, promptly removes it and apologizes

Dell's latest attempt to promote its high-end GPUs has fallen flat among online consumers, all because of a rather misleading comparison. The snafu stems from the above image, originally posted on the company's "Help me choose" feature -- an online assistant designed to help users customize their Optiplex desktops. At left is a desktop with a normal graphics card, juxtaposed with an identical machine packing Dell's "high-end" GPU. Both are displaying a Windows desktop at the same resolution, but the render on the left looks noticeably blurry. As many Reddit users soon pointed out, even the most prosaic of graphics cards would be able to transmit a blur-free Windows desktop, implying that the PC manufacturer may have taken some unfounded liberties with its imagery. PC Pro notified Dell of the discrepancy, and the graphic has since been removed. The company also issued the following apology, claiming that it had no intention of bending the truth:

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Dell endeavours to help customers to make the best decisions regarding their purchases. It was never our intention to mislead customers, and we apologise for any confusion caused. We have now removed the image from our Global sites. Dell remains committed to delivering the best possible experience to all our customers.

ASUS unveils thinnest ultrabook - Zenbook UX31

ASUS Technology, a brand better known for its products in the portable computing category, which include notebooks, laptops, among others has unveiled the Zenbook UX31 for the Indian market. Confirming in an official press release, ASUS confirmed the launch of its Zenbook UX31, which is touted as the thinnest notebook in the market. The Zenbook, adds ASUS, blends both design and performance capabilities. 

ASUS Zenbook UX31 - the slimmest notebook!

ASUS claims to have worked upon user experience and aesthetics aspects of the Zenbook, more than they did for their previous products. To begin with, the ASUS UX31 features a silver exterior panel and a concentric circle design, which refracts the light falling on, which according to ASUS is visually appealing. The front of the Zenbook UX31 is 0.11-inch thick at the front and 0.67-inch at the rear. The Zenbook is powered by Intel's latest second-generation Core processors (optimized for mobile use). Also inclusive in the Zenbook package is SATA Revision 3.0 solid state storage of 256GB (SSD), Bluetooth V4.0 and USB 3.0. There is USB Charger+ technology, which will use the powered USB 3.0 port to recharge portable device in lesser time, than otherwise, confirms ASUS. To better cool the notebook amidst high action, ASUS claims to have designed custom cooling technology using a V-shaped channel with a unique copper finish design, which offers better airflow and cooling. The Zenbook UX31 comes in 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch size variants. 

Interestingly, ASUS adds that when the battery levels of the Zenbook during any session goes below 5 percent, it will automatically save all the documents to avoid data loss. ASUS claims to have equipped the Zenbook with its SonicMaster technology, which according to ASUS gives the Zenbook, a wide sonic spectrum surround that can fill a room with soothing jazz or the tranquil sound of a mountain stream. 

ASUS has priced its Zenbook UX31 at Rs.89,999 (MRP) for the Indian market.

Ice Cream Sandwich ported to HTC G1, the first Android phone

In the interest of science, a bunch of folks from XDA Developers have managed to port Android 4.0, a.k.a Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) on the HTC G1, the world’s very first Android phone. The current ROM is in Alpha stage, so not everything’s up and running, just yet. What does work are the apps and the new features that come with ICS, but Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and screen orientation do not work. This was done purely as a technical exercise to see if it’s possible, as you’ll see from the video, the phone isn’t exactly usable.

Things could improve however with subsequent builds. This is quite an achievement, for the G1, especially that never saw Android beyond v1.6. ICS is obviously more resource hungry compared to the older version of Android, so whether it will ever run smoothly is yet to be seen. If you happen to have an old G1 gathering dust somewhere then you might want to give it a shot.

Asus launches Zenbook UX31E Ultrabook in India, at Rs. 89,999

                 Asus has launched the Zenbook UX31E in India, its offering in Intel’s new Ultrabook category that looks to provide desktop replacement specs in an ultraportable frame. Compared to the Acer Aspire S3 and Lenovo IdeaPad U300S (the other Ultrabooks launched in India), the 13.3-inch Asus Zenbook UX31E does stand out for its high-end specs. It's the  top-of-the-range model in the UX31 series, a fact well accounted for in the Rs. 89,999 price. The Asus Ultrabook offering is expected to be in stores by the third week of December. Lower-specced models of the UX31 series are expected sometime in 2012, alongside the 11.6-inch UX21 variants – well primed to take on both MacBook Air offerings.Intel’s Ultrabook category all share certain features in common, a thin and light frame, solid state storage, quick boot and instant-on wake-up times, and a good battery life. Always-on, always-connected features that Intel envisions for Ultrabooks will probably only come by 2012, awaiting the necessary services and software.

The Asus Zenbook UX31E weighs in at 1.3 kgs, and measures in at a thickness that ranges from nearly 3mm or .11-inches to around 18 mm, or 0.71-inches at its thickest. It runs on one of Intel’s latest mobile processors, a Huron River Intel Core i7-2677M at 1.7GHz (2 core 4 thread, max 2.9GHz Turbo), with 4MB cache, and integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics. The option of Core i5-2557M processor will come later. Asus has also fitted a SATA III 6Gbps 256GB SSD onboard, promising some nifty boot times and performance, coupled with 4GB of DDR3 RAM. As of now, the 13-inch Macbook Air has a 128GB SATA II SSD onboard as a standard spec. Also impressive for a 13.3-inch notebook, the Asus Zenbook UX31E has a 1600x900 pixel resolution display.

                It carries a 50Whr battery, non-user replaceable, rated to deliver more than 7 hours of use time, and a 10 day standby time. It comes with the Asus Super Hybrid Engine II onboard, with a promised 2 second resume time.

.Other features include audio from Bang & Olufsen ICEpower and Asus SonicMaster Tech, a USB2.0 port, a USB3.0 port, microHDMI and miniVGA ports, a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, SD card reader, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and an integrated .3MP webcam and microphone.

Do check out our previous coverage on the other Ultrabooks available in India, such as the Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook, and the Lenovo IdeaPad U300S Ultrabook.