CeBIT: Flood of new tablets

The CeBIT technology fair opening in Hannover, Germany, today, will feature new tablet releases from Acer, Samsung, Dell and Hauwei, among others.

CeBIT has a long tradition of product launches, and this year will be no different, particularly in the tablet category.

Among others, Acer will release one of the world’s first tablet computers with full HD resolution. The 10-inch screen of the Iconia A700, which features a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, is expected to set a new standard for tablet PCs. Acer’s new flagship product, which runs on the recently released Android Version 4.0 (“Ice Cream Sandwich””) and features Nvidia’s new Tegra3 quad-core processor and 3G connectivity, is expected to hit the shops in the second quarter of this year. Acer will also release two other tablets at this year’s show, the Iconia A510, which also features a quad-core processor and has a resolution of 1,280 x 800 pixels, and the A200 entry-level model.

Samsung will also return to CeBIT this year with a number of much anticipated new products, such as the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus N tablet PC, which combines high-performance hardware – a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 16 GB of onboard storage, expandable via microSD card – with Android functionality. With its 7-inch touchscreen, the device, which weighs in at a mere 345 grams, will comfortably fit any coat pocket. Samsung will also be showcasing its new Slate PC, featuring Windows architecture and an 11.6-inch screen, which combines the benefits of a tablet with the performance of a notebook. Other stand-out features include flexible data entry – via touchscreen, pen or bluetooth keyboard – and an integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which delivers added security for business environments.

Dell’s new Latitude ST tablet was specifically designed for commercial users, particularly healthcare and education professionals. The unit’s 10.1-inch screen and Windows operating system can be seamlessly integrated with Dell’s Electronic Medical Records and Mobile Clinical Computing solutions, which give doctors and healthcare workers mobile access to patient files and allow them to log medical examinations and conduct research. In the education sector, the Latitude ST facilitates classroom interaction and collaboration between teachers and students. The multitouch model comes with a wide range of connectivity options, such as WLAN and broadband Internet access, an HDMI interface and two integrated webcams. The device’s Intel Atom processor and Windows 7 operating system provide the ideal environment for working with all commonly used Windows applications, either via fingers or an included stylus.

Until now, Huawei has been primarily known as a supplier of ICT network technologies. This is about to change as the Chinese company prepares to grow its presence in the smartphone and tablets markets. At CeBIT 2012, Huawei will, for instance, showcase its new 7-inch MediaPad, which is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and features an aluminium unibody design. The MediaPad’s screen has a default resolution of 1,076 x 600 pixels but can also be run in HD mode at 1,280 x 800 pixels. Users wanting to switch to a larger screen to watch videos can simply connect the MediaPad to their HD TV sets via the device’s HDMI interface.

Other tablet PC manufacturers who have announced new product releases at CeBIT 2012 include Intenso (7″” Intenso Tab), Pearl (simvalley MOBILE SPX-5), SMARTBOOK (Fun Pad 7) and BMx (W7pad).

Accessories and tweaking advice – essentially anything that improves the handling and performance of tablet computers and smartphones – will be on show at the “”CeBIT i-land”” special presentation in Hall 16.

CeBIT 2012 will also put the spotlight on the many developments that have taken place in the classic mobile computing segment. A number of big-name manufacturers will be presenting their latest super-slim, lightweight and compact Ultrabooks in Hannover. Many of the devices feature Instant On rapid start operating systems and double as both laptops and tablets, courtesy of their swiveling/folding screens. Other improvements include vastly extended battery lives and integrated GPS and motion sensor systems.

* “