Android Community » Lenovo http://androidcommunity.com Tracking the Android Platform Revolution Sat, 26 May 2012 01:43:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Intel CEO: the first Medfield phone is launching this week http://androidcommunity.com/intel-ceo-the-first-medfield-phone-is-launching-this-week-20120417/ http://androidcommunity.com/intel-ceo-the-first-medfield-phone-is-launching-this-week-20120417/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:26:50 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=87705 ]]> When you look for an Android phone (and increasingly, any smartphone or tablet) you’re looking for something with an ARM-based processor, because at the moment it’s the only game in town. But that may change very soon: during Intel’s quarterly financial report, CEO Paul Otellini told investors that the first phone to feature Intel’s Medfield architecture will launch by the end of the week. That’s news to us, and it was certainly news to those listening in on the call.

The first current-generation phone to feature an Intel processor was Lenovo’s K800, also known as the Racer-A. We got an exclusive look at the phone at CES in January. Otellini didn’t specify which phone would be coming so soon, but since the K800 is the only one shown to the public this far and its rumored release date is May, it seems like the safe bet. On the other hand, Intel has also partnered with Motorola for its first round of hardware. Motorola hasn’t shown off any actual handsets just yet, but it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that they’ve kept it under wraps… just very unlikely. And Motorola is better positioned to sell phones outside of China and Europe.

Either way, you shouldn’t take the CEO’s statement to mean that a Medfield phone will be sitting at your local retailer by Sunday. With the 4.5-inch K800 already rumored for May, the most likely scenario is that Lenovo plans a formal announcement soon. These things have a tendency to get side-tracked as well, so I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see the next few days pass without a peep from either company. We’ll just have to wait and see.

[via 9to5Google]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/intel-ceo-the-first-medfield-phone-is-launching-this-week-20120417/feed/ 2 Lenovo shows IdeaTab S2109 with 4:3 screen and Ice Cream Sandwich http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-shows-ideatab-s2109-with-43-screen-and-ice-cream-sandwich-20120409/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-shows-ideatab-s2109-with-43-screen-and-ice-cream-sandwich-20120409/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:07:22 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=86296 ]]> It’s been a while since we heard from Lenovo on the tablet front. but they’ve broken their silence this morning in a big way. Say hello to the IdeaTab S2109, Lenovo’s first tablet (and in fact first anything) to run Ice Cream Sandwich. The 9.7-inch tablet has some otherwise pedestrian specs: though the 9.7-inch screen uses an IPS panel, it’s got a rather dated 1024×768 (4:3 aspect ratio) screen. While Lenovo has officially unveiled the device via a snazzy product video, there’s no word on when you can pick one up or for how much.

With the exception of the screen, the features of the S2109 seem pretty solid: there’s MicroSD, MicroHDMI and MicroUSB, for all your standards-compliant storage, display and charging needs. The tablet is the first we’ve ever seen with four individual speakers plus SRS certified sound, which should make it a beast for music. Lenovo says that it’s a unibody design with a gunmetal (read: gray) finish, though they don’t say what it’s made of – and it looks like plastic. It’s all powered by a TI OMAP processor of unknown design, but for my money the popular 4430 or 4460 seems likely. Throw in a 1.3mp front-facing camera an a quoted 10-hour battery life, and you’ve got something interesting indeed.

The most appealing part of Lenovo’s demonstration is Ice Cream Sandwich, apparently in an almost completely unmodified form. Aside from a quick mention of the Lenovo App Shop, the tablet looks like it’s running vanilla Android 4.0. That’s a far cry from Lenovo’s previous Gingerbread and Honeycomb tablets, both of which had some pretty extreme modifications to the user interface that weren’t always welcome. It’s nice to see Lenovo following the lead of companies like Archos and ASUS in shipping a mostly clean software experience. Wrap it all up in an 8.9mm body, and Lenovo might just have some takers – if the price is right.

[via Notebook Italia]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-shows-ideatab-s2109-with-43-screen-and-ice-cream-sandwich-20120409/feed/ 4 Papyrus note app launches with HTC and Lenovo stylus support http://androidcommunity.com/papyrus-note-app-launches-with-htc-and-lenovo-stylus-support-20120329/ http://androidcommunity.com/papyrus-note-app-launches-with-htc-and-lenovo-stylus-support-20120329/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:56:40 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=84668 ]]> With all the styli floating around the Android tablet world, it was only a matter of time before someone made a really excellent notation app for pen-based input. That app is Papyrus, a long-term project from indie developer Steadfast Innovation. The free app introduced its first beta version today, and you can download it on the Google Play Store. While it’s technically possible to use standard finger input in Papyrus, it’s specifically designed for Android tablets running 3.0 or later with stylus input options.

Papyrus brings the tried-and-true notation app into a more modern setting with full support for Android’s tablet interface, making the various writing tasks much easier. There’s also active gestures for quick stylus-based control – a lot like the old PalmOS used to have when every pocket computer came with a plastic pointer. You can share your notes via the standard email and Evernote services, or save them for your own as PDFs. Also, strokes are saves as vectors – a small thing, but trust me, it’s useful if you’re planning on importing any saved data into any sort of graphic design program.

Papyrus supports HTC’s Scribe Pen on the Flyer, EVO View 4G and the Jetstream, as well as the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet‘s built-in stylus. There’s a distinct lack of support for the Samsung Galaxy Note and its S-Pen, but that’s probably because the app is designed only for Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich. Once the Note gets its ICS upgrade and/or the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet hits shelves, the app will probably be updated to support the S-Pen SDK. Owners of other tablets can use a passive stylus (the cheap ones you see in all the electronics stores) but will miss out on pressure sensitivity.

unnamed (1) unnamed (2) unnamed ]]> http://androidcommunity.com/papyrus-note-app-launches-with-htc-and-lenovo-stylus-support-20120329/feed/ 5 Lenovo prepares business Android app store http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-prepares-business-android-app-store-20120327/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-prepares-business-android-app-store-20120327/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:03:22 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=84325 ]]> While Lenovo has been making strides in the consumer market for the last few years, its heart and soul is in enterprise, where a ThinkPad laptop is the computing equivalent of sensible khakis and a power tie. Their tablets (even the ThinkPad Tablet) haven’t caught on as of yet, but the company is hoping to change that with the Lenovo Enterprise App Shop, an app store for enterprise customers. (Natch.) As opposed to the Google Play Store and its alternatives, the Enterprise App Shop can be launched on a company-by-company basis, with volume licensing discounts and on-site management tools.

While Lenovo will handle the technical details of each company’s individual app shop, administrators can choose which apps employees can access – so if one version of, say, an intra-office IM client is incompatible with their servers, they can block it from the list. Lenovo is acting as a gatekeeper for all the apps offered, and will guarantee their security and functionality on Lenovo tablets. While the Enterprise App Shop will only work on Android 3.1 or higher (currently that’s all of Lenovo’s tablets except the IdeaPad A1) it will presumably be open to older apps as well. The company says the store will launch soon at this address, though the page is plank at the moment.

It’s easy to see why Lenovo would want to create its own app store for business customers. In addition to adding a little differentiation, it gives Android some much-needed polish in the eyes of corporate clients – it’s hard to feel good about an esential peice of business software when you download it from something called the “Play Store”. What little market there is for corporate tablets is still dominated by Apple – we’ll see if Lenovo can shake things up.

[via TechCrunch]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-prepares-business-android-app-store-20120327/feed/ 0 Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 sneaks into the FCC http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2109-sneaks-into-the-fcc-20120312/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2109-sneaks-into-the-fcc-20120312/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:32:27 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=82539 ]]> What have we here? A previously undiscovered Lenovo tablet, if the Federal Communications Commission can be believed. The Chinese manufacturer submitted the drawings below for the “IdeaTab S2109″ for the standard set of wireless tests, certifying its WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and FM radios. There’s very little else in the way of empirical information, though the wire frame of the tablet’s backside would seem to indicate either an unusual bezel style or (morel likely) a non-widescreen aspect ratio, probably of the 4:3 variety.

That would be a first for Lenovo, though it’s certainly not unique. Archos, Pantech and various other low-cost Android tablet makers have employed the form factor, usually going for an iPad-matching 1024×768 LCD screen. Notably, the HP TouchPad uses a similar size and resolution. The FCC isn’t interested in specifics that extend beyond a gadget’s wireless capabilities, so there’s no way to be sure of the screen size, or for that matter any of the other components. Technically an FCC filing doesn’t guarantee a US release, either, though it’s certainly a strong indication.

Currently the only Lenovo tablets on our horizon are the IdeaPad K2 (a 10-inch Tegra 3 beast with a 1920×1200 10-inch screen) and three members of the LePad family, the S2005, S2007 and S2010. The name of this tablet indicates that it’s either a new generation of these LePad devices or a 9-inch variant of the three that have been unveiled already. No LeGadget has thus far made it to the American market thus far, so the IdeaTab name is probably going to stick. Expect to see this one on retail shelves in the next few months.

[via Engadget]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2109-sneaks-into-the-fcc-20120312/feed/ 2 Motorola confirmed as Intel Medfield launch partner, details coming next week http://androidcommunity.com/motorola-confirmed-as-intel-medfield-launch-partner-details-coming-next-week-20120221/ http://androidcommunity.com/motorola-confirmed-as-intel-medfield-launch-partner-details-coming-next-week-20120221/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:54:15 +0000 Cory Gunther http://androidcommunity.com/?p=79481 ]]> Intel is set to make a big splash next week at Mobile World Congress. That splash being inside of Android smartphones and tablets of course. We’ve heard plenty about the PC leader bringing their chips to Android and the platform is called Medfield for those unfamiliar. New details confirmed that both Lenovo and Motorola are launch partners, and we can we can expect to see plenty next week in Barcelona, Spain.

We received some hands-on with the Lenovo Racer A Intel-powered smartphone at CES but next week in Spain Intel will be heating things up with more phones and tablets. According to American Statesman Intel plans to unveil all the details and their plans next week to become a “key supplier” in the mobile market. They have two partners, Motorola Mobility and China’s Lenovo Group.

Last week some renders appeared of a Motorola Ice Cream Sandwich phone powered by Intel (links below). Most likely Intel’s Medfield will also land on some Windows Phone 7 devices but we are only interested in those on Android of course. Hopefully Intel has some impressive consumer-ready tablets from both Lenovo and Motorola they’ll be showing off as I’d love to give them a try.

One key area is power consumption and that has always been an area Intel struggled in the past before Medfield. Intel has been stating it has enough performance, and energy/power saving features to be a real contender for smartphones. Analyst suggest that Intel will need to have a strong showing next week with hardware, software, and plans to offer 4G LTE capable Intel-powered phones to be a true competitor to the likes of Qualcomm and NVIDIA.

Once again, we will be live in Spain for Mobile World Congress and you can follow all the news and announcements at our MWC 2012 Portal.

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/motorola-confirmed-as-intel-medfield-launch-partner-details-coming-next-week-20120221/feed/ 0 Android Community Weekly: February 18, 2012 http://androidcommunity.com/android-community-weekly-february-18-2012-20120218/ http://androidcommunity.com/android-community-weekly-february-18-2012-20120218/#comments Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:59:22 +0000 Sam Koutroulakis http://androidcommunity.com/?p=79052 ]]> It’s time to rehash the entire weeks top stories and bring everyone up to speed before next week’s big MWC event in Barcelona, Spain. First up, specifications of the HTC One X, set to be their new ‘hero’ device, surfaced early Wednesday morning. The One X has also had its ROM leak to the public, which made a later Android 4.0 port to the HTC Sensation a reality. The port sports HTC Sense 4.0, yet they’ve had to disable the Rosie launcher, keyboard, and HTC’s lockscreen. They’ve been replaced with more stable substitutions for the time being.


We went hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Note from AT&T, and presented an unboxing and some overall first impressions. There’s no question that it’s an amazing device, but its size will likely not appeal to the average user. And on the other side of the spectrum, many will find it was just what they’ve been waiting for. Many are surprised to see the stylus come back in play, but with such great, new capacitive screens – the new-age stylus is much more comfortable to use. We’d also managed to get a hands-on and unboxing up of Lenovo’s IdeaPad A1.

The Motorola DROID 4 was rooted this week, but just recently a developer had managed to find an exploit that allows a ‘one-click-root’ to any current Motorola device running either Gingerbread or Honeycomb. The method was originally meant to root the DROID XYBOARD, but to everyone’s surprise it worked universally.

Sources say the Samsung Epic 4G Touch could be the first GSII device to receive Android 4.0. And when the first GSII device finally receives it, you know the others will soon follow. Hopefully it hits before Android 5.0 (Jelly Bean) is rolled out in the 2nd quarter of this year. And with Quadrant Benchmark finally updated for ICS support – it’s going to be great seeing how the new OS compares.

Finally, be sure to stay tuned for Android Community’s WIMM Spring Developers Project. We’ve already given away three WIMM developer packages, and there are many more changes to win throughout next week. Contest entry is simple: Just let us know some great application ideas and/or features that should be implemented into the WIMM One.

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/android-community-weekly-february-18-2012-20120218/feed/ 0 Android Community Evening Wrap-Up: February 16, 2012 http://androidcommunity.com/android-community-evening-wrap-up-february-16-2012-20120216/ http://androidcommunity.com/android-community-evening-wrap-up-february-16-2012-20120216/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:29:55 +0000 Sam Koutroulakis http://androidcommunity.com/?p=78778 ]]> Today we had a handful of stories that deserved to be rehashed to make sure those of you that missed them the first time. First up, a rumor surfaced that Android 5.0 ‘Jelly Bean’ could be due in 2nd quarter of this year. The term ‘Jelly Bean’ hasn’t even been confirmed, so take this with a grain of salt. However, sources claim Google is hinting for its hardware partners to consider it for new tablets and notebooks.


Later, Samsung’s official Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) ROM for the Galaxy Note leaked out. Unfortunately, it won’t successfully boot on any version but I9220. This model is localized in China, so the international GSM version as well as AT&T’s won’t be compatible.

A possible Google Drive screenshot and logo may have leaked today, but with no official announcement it’s too early to tell. The screenshot only shows uploaded documents, so it could easily be a tampered screenshot of Google Docs. The logo however, seems completely legit. It’s simplistic, and looks to be made by Google.

Finally, be sure to check out our hands-on and unboxing of the Lenovo IdeaPad A1. We revisited the A1 in hopes to see how it fairs to the Kindle Fire – so check back after the weekend to see a full review.

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/android-community-evening-wrap-up-february-16-2012-20120216/feed/ 1 Lenovo IdeaPad A1 Hands-on and unboxing http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideapad-a1-hands-on-and-unboxing-20120216/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideapad-a1-hands-on-and-unboxing-20120216/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:31:26 +0000 Cory Gunther http://androidcommunity.com/?p=78736 ]]> If you’ve been looking for a budget Android tablet and some of the current offerings aren’t quite what you’ve been looking for then I might have just the device for you. The Lenovo IdeaPad A1 tablet. Today we had the opportunity to unbox it and get a quick hands-on for everyone to check out. It might not be the fastest or the best, and it runs on Gingerbread but take a look below to see more.

The IdeaPad A1 has been available for a few months now but we decided to take another look. This tablet is Lenovo’s third Android slate and comes in at the budget-friendly price of just $199. Below you’ll see we unbox and get some hands-on with this Android 2.3 Gingerbread slate for a quick video and you can expect our full thoughts soon.

Now for $199 it isn’t the best tablet on the block, but it also isn’t the most expensive either. The Lenovo A1 comes with a single-core 1.0 GHz processor and only 512MB of RAM. Making it one of the lower powered tablets available. It does however come with a 7″ 1024 x 600 resolution display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 5 megapixel camera on the rear and 16GB of internal storage. Lenovo has also conveniently added a micro-sd slot for extra storage — something many tablet makers currently aren’t offering.

We will be looking over this tablet for the weekend, testing the OS, battery life, and overall performance given the specs and will be sure to have a full review for those interested. Now obviously with others like the Kindle Fire with a dual-core processor in the same price range this puts the A1 in a unique spot. With lower specs it doesn’t have the performance to offer, but it does run on a pretty stock Android 2.3 Gingerbread build. Not to mention full Android Market support unlike many other budget tablets.

While my initial impressions with both the screen quality and sensitivity aren’t good, I’ll keep more details for the full review that will be coming soon. Check out the hands-on video below if this 7″ Gingerbread tablet interests you, and let us know what you think of the specs/price in the comment section below.

P1080801 P1080799 P1080794 P1080793 P1080795 P1080792
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : A1
    Manufactuer : Lenovo
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : September 01, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1024x600
  • Screen Type : NA
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 7.68 Inch
  • Width : 4.92 Inch
  • Depth : 0.47 Inch
  • Weight : 400 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : 3550 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 3622
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : 512 MB
    Internal Storage : 16.384 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 3 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
  • SD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideapad-a1-hands-on-and-unboxing-20120216/feed/ 2 Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet Android 4.0 update detailed and coming soon http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-android-4-0-update-detailed-and-coming-soon-20120206/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-android-4-0-update-detailed-and-coming-soon-20120206/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:36:50 +0000 Cory Gunther http://androidcommunity.com/?p=76910 ]]> Lenovo has just detailed and tipped our friends from SlashGear off regarding their update timeline for the ThinkPad Tablet. While they didn’t give us an extremely clear idea they were nice enough to mention the update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will be here inside of Spring 2012. Basically within the next few weeks, or a couple of months.

Along with the awesome UI and performance improvements from 4.0 ICS we’ll also get the face unlock features shown on the Galaxy Nexus too. The ThinkPad tablet was one of the few Honeycomb tablets to also come with built-in navigation buttons, and those obviously will be sticking around with Ice Cream Sandwich as they are a part of the tablet. So we’ll have two options for navigation.

Lenovo didn’t give any details on their K1 tablet but we should expect an update to land for both of their Honeycomb tablets within a similar time frame. Along with the improved browser, voice input, face recognition, and more the stylus and mouse support will be even more present with Ice Cream Sandwich. This was a business minded tablet before — and will be the same moving forward. Users can expect the over-the-air update to land soon, so stay tuned.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : ThinkPad Tablet
    Manufactuer : Lenovo
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : July 19, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : Lenovo ThinkPad Honeycomb Tablet, Lenovo Android ThinkPad
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : NA
  • Width : NA
  • Depth : NA
  • Weight : NA
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3250 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 3.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • MP3
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 2
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 64 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
  • SD
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-android-4-0-update-detailed-and-coming-soon-20120206/feed/ 0 Lenovo promises Ice Cream Sandwich update for ThinkPad Tablet in Q2 http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-promises-ice-cream-sandwich-update-for-thinkpad-tablet-in-q2-20120130/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-promises-ice-cream-sandwich-update-for-thinkpad-tablet-in-q2-20120130/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:07:13 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=75649 ]]> Lenovo’s got some pretty exciting things lined up for 2012 as far as Android hardware goes, but apparently they haven’t forgot about users of their buttoned-down ThinkPad tablet. ITWorld reports that the company has committed to upgrading the Honeycomb tablet to Ice Cream Sandwich some time in the second quarter of this year. Specific dates weren’t given, but the should put the release at somewhere between 2 and 5 months from now, barring and delays.

The ThinkPad Tablet was released last summer to generally favorable reviews, especially among fans of the company’s no-nonsense line of laptops. The 10.1-inch tablet still runs Android 3.1 Honeycomb with a few of Lenovo’s custom UI overlays. The ThinkPad Tablet is pretty solid as a first-generation Honeycomb device, with a 1280×800 screen, Tegra 2 processor and an integrated stylus (which, incidentally, nails the “red nub” ThinkPad style). Retail prices are still hovering in the $400-500 range, but the tablet is often seen on sale or reduced.

Fans of the hardware caught a break last week, as the unusually hard-to-crack software was finally rooted for the first time. In almost no time at all a version of ClockworkMod recovery was installed, paving the way for custom ROMs and other modifications. Though it’s almost certain that someone will get Ice Cream Sandwich running on the ThinkPad tablet before the official update (likely based on CyanogenMod’s public code) it’s nice to see Lenovo supporting its more pedestrian users. The release will also help modders to get a more stable and reliable version of custom ROMs working.

Unfortunately, there’s still no word on an updated version of the ThinkPad Tablet’s hardware. We’ll be keeping an eye out.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : ThinkPad Tablet
    Manufactuer : Lenovo
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : July 19, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : Lenovo ThinkPad Honeycomb Tablet, Lenovo Android ThinkPad
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : NA
  • Width : NA
  • Depth : NA
  • Weight : NA
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3250 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 3.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • MP3
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 2
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 64 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
  • SD
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-promises-ice-cream-sandwich-update-for-thinkpad-tablet-in-q2-20120130/feed/ 0 Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet finally gets root access http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-finally-gets-root-access-20120124/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-finally-gets-root-access-20120124/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:53:06 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=74892 ]]> Normally any Android phone or tablet with even a mild community interest will be quickly given root access, allowing for more powerful apps and (usually) custom ROMs to be installed. But in the case of the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet released way back in August of 2011,  that freedom has eluded owners for some time. An enterprising modder named Dan Rosenberg has finally managed to crack the black plastic nut, and score himself a nice bounty of nearly $800 in the process. It wasn’t long before the boys at XDA had ClockworkMod recovery running, too.

The root process is about as complicated as they come for Android – those hoping for a one-click solution will have to look elsewhere. You’ll need to install custom drivers, go through the Android SDK (which requires Java) add the ADB tool like most root exploits, the run some custom code, then connect your tablet to your computer, making sure that USB debugging is enabled, the screen is unlocked AND it’s connected to a WiFi network. After running the exploit, the world is your oyster or mollusk of choice.

Since it’s taken so long to get root access, there’s a definite dearth of customized apps and ROMs for the ThinkPad Tablet. That said, it shouldn’t be long before someone releases a “clean” version of the Honeycomb software already installed, with Lenovo’s user interface tweaks removed or hidden. There manufacturer has already promised an Ice Cream Sandwich update for the tablet, but you can bet that there will be an AOSP or CyanogenMod 9 release long before that.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : ThinkPad Tablet
    Manufactuer : Lenovo
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : July 19, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : Lenovo ThinkPad Honeycomb Tablet, Lenovo Android ThinkPad
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : NA
  • Width : NA
  • Depth : NA
  • Weight : NA
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3250 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 3.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • MP3
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 2
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 64 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
  • SD
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Android Police]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-finally-gets-root-access-20120124/feed/ 0 Deal Alert: Lenovo IdeaPad A1 on sale for $167 [UPDATE] http://androidcommunity.com/deal-alert-lenovo-ideapad-a1-on-sale-for-167-20120119/ http://androidcommunity.com/deal-alert-lenovo-ideapad-a1-on-sale-for-167-20120119/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:03:18 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=74261 ]]> Ever since the HP TouchPad firesale put the idea of super-cheap tablets into people’s heads, technophiles the world over have been clamoring for deals on big-screen mobile hardware. The success of the relatively inexpensive Kindle Fire and Nook Color/Nook Tablet are testaments to this. If you’re looking for a tablet deal and don’t mind sticking with Gingerbread, Lenovo is selling the IdeaPad A1 for just $167.20 at its online store – a good 25% lower than any competing model from a large manufacturer.

The A1 is a study in compromises: its 7-inch screen is relatively low-res at 1026×600, the processor is a single-core TI 1Ghz model, and at 11.9 millimeters it can’t touch recent models from Samsung or Asus. And the basic model that’s on sale in the Lenovo store has a rather typical 16GB of on-board storage. All that said, the A1 is probably the lowest entry price that you can find for a Gingerbread tablet that also supports the Android Market without any rooting or hacks – a definite advantage over the Kindle Fire and Nook.

To get this discounted price, follow the link above, or just use the “EMPLOYEEPRICE0119″ code at checkout. That code implies that this deal is good for today only, so if you’re tempted, get a move on. While the development community for the A1 isn’t as vibrant as the Kindle Fire or more mainstream tablets, root has already been achieved, and there’s also a version of CyanogenMod 7 (Gingerbread) built for the hardware. No reports of Ice Cream Sandwich ROMs have crossed our desks, but if enough modders get their hands on the cheap tablet, it’s only a matter of time.

UPDATE: Several commenters note that the price has changed back to the normal MSRP on the website, and Lenovo is refusing to lower the standard price when contacted over the phone. Better luck next time.

[via Reddit]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/deal-alert-lenovo-ideapad-a1-on-sale-for-167-20120119/feed/ 12 Intel claims better Android performance on Medfield chips http://androidcommunity.com/intel-claims-better-android-performance-on-medfield-chips-20120117/ http://androidcommunity.com/intel-claims-better-android-performance-on-medfield-chips-20120117/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:03:13 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=73993 ]]> Intel made a splash at CES when its partner Lenovo showed off the Racer-A/K800, the first Android-powered smartphone to use Intel’s chip design. Though the chip giant is late and in many ways behind in the smartphone game at the moment, they don’t intend to be an also-ran. Mike Bell, formerly of Palm and currently Intel’s vice president of Ultra Mobility, claimed in an interview with EE Times that the Medfield system-on-a-chip would make huge advancements in both power and efficiency on Android.

“We have adopted Android as our platform of choice… we’re just building the best hardware in the world to make Android shine.” Bell claims that Medfield is demonstrably faster than competing chips while remaining at least as power efficient, a stance that will certainly raise enthusiast eyebrows if true. Previously Intel had aimed to make chips as fast as possible without regard for power savings, but Bell said that the 32 nanometer standard allows OEMs to have the best of both worlds.

Speed is important, but so is idleness, at least in the Android world. Bell said that the standby power draw for Medfield is “well within shouting distance of best-in class”, and that in web benchmarks Intel’s hardware “smokes the competition”. Based on our hands-on experience with Lenovo’s pre-production hardware, we’d say that those claims are certainly valid. The company is publishing a set of tools that will allow apps to be coded specifically for Intel hardware, but it says that existing applications should run fine when downloaded onto an Intel-inside smartphone.

Bell also played up Intel’s growing relationship with Google. “Intel architecture is now a first-class citizen, as far as Google is concerned,” said Bell, a statement that seems somewhat at odds with Google TV’s quick shift to ARM-based hardware. Intel claims that there will be no time lag between Google’s release of a standard ARM-based version of future Android software and an Intel-optimized one.

Intel plans to start its march into the Android world in China, with partners Lenovo and Motorola. The company hopes to expand to mare markets and OEMs late this year and in 2013.

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/intel-claims-better-android-performance-on-medfield-chips-20120117/feed/ 2 CES 2012 Android Wrap-Up http://androidcommunity.com/ces-2012-android-wrap-up-20120116/ http://androidcommunity.com/ces-2012-android-wrap-up-20120116/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:02:31 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=73613 ]]> The Consumer Electronics Show is the grandaddy of ‘em all when it comes to technology conferences, and with Android’s rise to the top of the mobile world, that means there was plenty of phones and tablets on hand. For consumers, the big guns at Samsung, HTC, Motorola and Asus were out in full force. most of the devices seen at the 2012 show will be appearing on shelves in the next six months or so. Here are the ones you’ll want to look forward to (be sure to check our CES 2012 portal for all the stories):

AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note LTE

In the United States we’ve had to wait a long, long time for the Galaxy Note to come to officially launch on a carrier, but the wait is almost over. AT&T announced at its press conference that the much-anticipated flagship phone would launch exclusively on Ma Bell in the US, which Samsung confirmed in its own conference hours later. There are a couple of important distinctions between the international version and AT&T’s flavor: one, it’ll work on the new LTE network, which in AT&T’s case is playing catch-up to Verizon. And two, the US version will shift from Samsung’s preferred 3-button layout to the four standard Android capacitive buttons, which we don’t have a problem with. Though there’s no news on a price or release date, we’re just glad to hear that it will be coming our way soon.

Asus MeMO 370T

Asus announced a slew of new tablets at CES, including a 1080p refresh of the Transformer Prime. But what we’re really impressed with is the MeMO 370T, a 7-inch Ice Cream Sandwich running on Nvidia’s Tegra 3 system-on-a-chip. The kicker: it’ll go for a song at $250. That’s fighting for market share with the Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet, both of which have significantly weaker hardware and non-standard software. The cheaper side on Android tablets is the quickest-growing section, and it looks like Asus intends to right smack-dab in the middle of it. The MeMo 370T will be out sometime in the second quarter.

Asus Padfone refresh

The MeMO impresses via a combination of high-end features and a low price, but for real innovation, you’ve got to check out the Padfone. The concept has been refined since we saw it last year, but the hardware is still a long way from ready – the combination of phyisical and virtual buttons in Ice Cream Sandwich is a dead give-away. That said, it’s still a great idea (depending upon who you ask): instantly upgrading your smartphone to a tablet, with an extra battery and access to all your apps and data without syncing. The refreshed hardware takes advantage of Ice Cream Sandwich’s dual identity. If the idea catches on, this could become a brand new product category – and do away with at least some of wireless carriers’ insistence that people pay twice for data. Expect to see more complete hardware and software around Mobile World Congress.

Sony Xperia SmarWatch

Yes, the Nozomi was revealed to be the Xperia Ion (or the Xperia S, depending upon where you live) but we’re more excited to see a return to the LiveView concept, which we feel didn’t get a fair shake the first time around. The new Sony Ericsson SmartWatch is a new Android-based watch which has a full touchscreen (as opposed to just the sides like the original) and a collection of mini-apps pre-loaded. The SmartWatch can pair with a standard phone via Bluetooth, but it can also function well enough on its own. Like the Motorola MOTOACTV, Sony is putting a focus on exercising, plus the usual call/text/social alerts. Most impressively, it’ll get apps from the Android Market, and the rated battery life is 2-4 days depending on use. Sony expects the SmartWatch to go on sale in the next two months for $149.99.

Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX

If you bought the DROID RAZR on the first day it was released back in November, best to avert your eyes now. In addition to finally confirming the DROID 4, Motorola and Verizon announced the DROID RAZR MAXX, which stays the same as its predecessor except for a slightly larger profile and a massive 3,300mAh battery. That’s much larger than most extended batteries on sale, though the battery in the MAXX is still non-removable. According to Motorola, it should last for an impressive 21 hours with regular use. While we would have liked to have seen Ice Cream Sandwich or a 720p display on new hardware, such extensive changes probably would have made current RAZR owners pretty upset – or at least ,more upset than they are now. The DROID RAZR MAXX is expected to hit stores soon with a $300 price tag.

Lenovo Racer-A 

Easily the most important step forward for Android smartphones was Lenovo’s Racer-A, also known as the K800. There’s nothing particularly incredible about its specifications – Gingerbread runs on 1GB of RAM with a 4.5-inch 720p display and Lenovo’s familiar interface. What’s noteworthy about the Racer-A is the 1.6Ghz processor: there’s Intel inside. The phone is the very first to run Intel’s Medfeild system-on-a-chip, and represents the chip maker’s return to the mobile market, which it hasn’t seriously competed in since the days of the old Xscale processors. The Racer-A is unlikely to make it to American shores since Lenovo’s smartphone business isn’t currently active in North America, but if the phone is a hit in Asia, expect more Intel-based designs to show up in the United States in late 2012 or early 2013.

So, which is the most important? We’re partial to Asus’ MeMO ourselves – with the tablet market exploding, a solid Ice Cream Sandwich machine at a near impulse buy price could change the landscape for good. Even if Asus can’t pump out the sheer numbers to compete with Apple, expect Samsung and others to answer the call and drive Android tablet adoption to new heights. We’re looking forward to bringing you hands-on and reviews of as many of these smartphones and tablets as we can grab in the next few months. Expect Mobile World Congress in February to be even more chock-full of Android goodness.

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/ces-2012-android-wrap-up-20120116/feed/ 0 Lenovo IdeaTab S2 10 and S2 smartphone debut http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2-10-and-s2-smartphone-debut-20120108/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2-10-and-s2-smartphone-debut-20120108/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:50 +0000 Chris Davies http://androidcommunity.com/?p=73206 ]]> Lenovo has launched a new Android slate and handset duo, the Lenovo IdeaTab S2 10 tablet and S2 smartphone, running Android Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread respectively, at CES today. The S2 10 is the more interesting of the two, pairing Android 4.0 with Lenovo’s own Mondrian UI on a dual-core Snapdragon 8960 processor.

The whole slate measures a slender 1/3-inch thick, and tips the scales at 1.1-pounds. Paired with an ASUS-style detachable keyboard dock, you get up to 20hrs battery life – or so Lenovo claims – and there’s access to both the Android Market and Lenovo’s own App Store.

As for the Lenovo S2, that hides Android 2.3 under the Mondrian UI, and has an 8-megapixel camera – with panoramic photo feature – along with a front-facing camera. Lenovo is pushing the smartphone’s security features, however, an encrypted kernel that the company reckons will mean your data and network traffic is more secure from phishing and malware.

Both tablet and smartphone will go on sale in China immediately, though Lenovo warns it may take a little longer to bring them to North America, Europe and elsewhere. No word on pricing at this stage.

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2-10-and-s2-smartphone-debut-20120108/feed/ 2 Lenovo K91 puts ICS on a Smart TV http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-k91-puts-ics-on-a-smart-tv-20120108/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-k91-puts-ics-on-a-smart-tv-20120108/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:45 +0000 Chris Davies http://androidcommunity.com/?p=73210 ]]> Lenovo has unveiled a new, Android-powered smart TV at CES today, the K91, running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and delivering tech specs we’d more expect to find on a smartphone. The K91 smart TV has a dual-core Snapdragon 8060 processor and a 5-megapixel camera in the bezel, above a 55-inch 3D-capable 240Hz HD IPS LCD display.

Lenovo has reworked the ICS interface, into what the company calls “Sandwich”: the UI has three major sections, for regular TV programs, Video on Demand (VoD) and internet apps. Streaming media will be offered in HD with surround sound and 3D graphics where available, and there’s access to the Android Market and Lenovo’s own download store.

In addition to a regular remote there’s voice control and dictation support, and Lenovo has even used Android 4.0′s face unlock feature with the parental security settings. Those who have the K91 and one of Lenovo’s other recent devices – such as the IdeaTab S2 10 tablet - will be able to stream content between the two, as well as between their PC, smartphone and from cloud storage online.

No word on pricing at this stage, but China will get the Lenovo K91 smart TV first while the company plans to bring it to other territories in due course.

K91 55'3D_06 K91 55'3D_Peripherals_07 K91 55'3D_Peripherals_01 K91 55'3D_08 K91 55'3D_Peripherals_02 K91 55'3D_10 ]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-k91-puts-ics-on-a-smart-tv-20120108/feed/ 5 Lenovo, ZTE and other Chinese OEMs band together to fight Android patent trolls http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-zte-and-other-chinese-oems-band-together-to-fight-android-patent-trolls-20111230/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-zte-and-other-chinese-oems-band-together-to-fight-android-patent-trolls-20111230/#comments Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:05:09 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=72055 ]]> If you’re tired of seeing all the patent lawsuit stories that pop up on Android Community, imagine how tired we are of writing them. We’re not alone, and a group of Chinese manufacturers is reportedly joining forces to fight off the legal bulldogs from Apple, Microsoft, Oracle and the like. DigiTimes reports that Lenovo, ZTE and smaller manufacturers TCL, Coolpad and Konka have formed an alliance to jointly defend against corporate patent trolls in the huge and growing Chinese smartphone market.


Thus far none of the above have been seriously affected by patent litigation, since Apple and Microsoft are more interested in shutting down the bigger players (or at least making them pay). HTC, Samsung and Motorola have all been hit, with varying degrees of damage, and even smaller players like Asus, Acer and Barnes & Noble have been scorched in the Android patent wars. It appears that as the Chinese manufacturers turn their sights towards the global market, they’re ready and willing to put up a fight to the American giants who wish to profit from Android without contributing.

An interesting omission in the report is Huawei, a Chinese OEM that’s been betting big on Android and winning, for the most part. Devices like the Glory/Honor, Ascend and the MediaPad are getting good reviews and solid sales in markets around the world, making Huawei one to watch. Perhaps the company thinks it can stand on its own IP, as it recently secured several key cellular patents. There’s always the possibility that more OEMs (possibly even the smaller companies from Taiwan, South Korea and Japan) could join the coalition in the future.

The litigation train doesn’t seem to be slowing down as we enter 2012, and in the case of Lenovo and ZTE, they’ve resolved not to be caught at the crossing.

[via Phandroid]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-zte-and-other-chinese-oems-band-together-to-fight-android-patent-trolls-20111230/feed/ 0 Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 16GB just $369 from eBay Daily Deals http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-16gb-just-369-from-ebay-daily-deals-20111209/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-16gb-just-369-from-ebay-daily-deals-20111209/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:51:37 +0000 Cory Gunther http://androidcommunity.com/?p=68859 ]]> We know there is literally tons of options when it comes to Android tablets these days. With quad-core tablets getting ready to assault the market we should start seeing some excellent deals on older devices. Take the Lenovo ThinkPad tablet for example. It might not be the fastest or the thinnest but it has some extra special features that make it great for business users like the optional active stylus. For those not needing the best but also want a great dual-core tablet the ThinkPad is $130 cheaper than usual today being offered as the eBay Daily Deal.

We’ve covered the ThinkPad plenty in the past and it went on sale back in August for a hefty price of around $499. That does get you a 10.1″ IPS display, NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, Android 3.2 Honeycomb and even dedicated hardware buttons — a rare thing for Honeycomb.

I reviewed this beastly tablet at our sister site SlashGear so check it out for more details before you decide to buy. With an included stylus, IPS panel, and plenty of accessories from Lenovo this is actually a pretty solid tablet for business users — not to mention it has full sized USB and micro both. It is a bit fat and much heavier then it needs to be but for $369 it’s a pretty great deal. If this interests you then hit the link below and buy one yourself.

eBay Daily Deals — Lenovo

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : ThinkPad Tablet
    Manufactuer : Lenovo
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : July 19, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : Lenovo ThinkPad Honeycomb Tablet, Lenovo Android ThinkPad
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : NA
  • Width : NA
  • Depth : NA
  • Weight : NA
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3250 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 3.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • MP3
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 2
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 64 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
  • SD
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Android Police]

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-thinkpad-tablet-16gb-just-369-from-ebay-daily-deals-20111209/feed/ 0 Lenovo commits to Android tablets after Dell abandons the Streak http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-commits-to-android-tablets-after-dell-abandons-the-streak-20111207/ http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-commits-to-android-tablets-after-dell-abandons-the-streak-20111207/#comments Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:58:40 +0000 Michael Crider http://androidcommunity.com/?p=68411 ]]> OK, Dell Streak fans, this is your chance to speak up. No one? OK. After Dell stopped selling the Streak 7 tablet, essentially giving up on the Android tablet scene in America, many believe that it’s preparing to transition to Windows tablets. A new 10-inch Windows 7 slate is already coming, and Windows 8 tablets should be available in late 2012 or 2013. Dell didn’t confirm any definite plans. But either way, Lenovo appears ready and willing to become the PC manufacturer with the greatest presence in the Android tablet world.

“Our tablet strategy today is an Android operating system,”  said a North American Lenovo executive in an interview with CRN, backing up the evidence of recent leaks. Lenovo’s S-series tablets and an upcoming quad-core monster labelled the LePad K2 are poised to launch in the first half of 2012, giving Lenovo one of the widest Android tablet lines this side of Samsung. It will also be one of just two PC manufacturers with a solid Android ARM-based tablet presence, sharing the stage with Acer.

Dell isn’t necessarily out of the game – there’s no confirmation that they’re done with Android. But given the vicious competition in the tablet space overall, it could be that the company is just looking to focus on its more traditional strength, a la HP. Dell still has some pretty strong showings for Android smartphones, though they only seem interested in the Chinese market at the moment. Is anyone really broken up about Dell’s probable exit from mobile tablets? Sound off in the comments.

]]> http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-commits-to-android-tablets-after-dell-abandons-the-streak-20111207/feed/ 2