First Tizen tablet launches in Japan, caters exclusively to developers

Despite absorbing MeeGo, learning to run Android apps and pushing through a significant UI overhaul, devices running Tizen are notoriously hard to come by. Developers eyeing the platform in Japan, however, just got one more option: the Tizen build kit, from Systena. It's a package that includes developer tools, manuals and technical and consulting services from Systena, but the real star of the kit is the included 10.1-inch developer tablet. Packing a quad-core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage underneath a 1,920 x 1,200 display, this slab offers a Tizen 2.1 experience built specifically for app development and product demonstration. The company hasn't publicly posted a price for the kit, but interested developers can request more information through the company's website. The rest of us will have to settle for flashing our own devices.

[Image Credit: S-Max.jp]

Source: Systena

HTC reportedly building an Android smartwatch that will be more than 'just a gimmick'

Bloomberg's gotten word from the perennial "people familiar with the matter" that HTC is building an Android-based smartwatch that's set for release in the latter half of 2014. While other features and a price have yet to be set in stone, the outlet's source says the timepiece will sport a camera. Just two days ago, HTC CEO Peter Chou revealed through a Financial Times report that the firm had worked on an intelligent watch with Microsoft, and noted that current high-tech wristwatches are just "gimmick" experiences. "It has to meet a need, otherwise if it's just a gimmick or concept, it's not for people's day-to-day lives," Chou told FT. "That is an opportunity for us."

And if you were only expecting wrist-worn hardware from the outfit, chairwoman Cher Wang hinted that a tablet is in the pipeline as well. "When the [HTC] tablet comes out it will be something nice and disruptive," Wang said. Clearly, slates and futuristic tickers are filling the company's collective mind, and it looks like 2014 will bring more details (and hopefully its fair share of leaks, too).

Source: Bloomberg, Financial Times

Lenovo IdeaPad B6000 and B8000 tablets spotted at German online retailers

When you're in the game of leaking your own products, why not do it properly? Those self-supporting Yoga Tablets we saw sneak out via Lenovo recently seem to tally well with the above pictured IdeaPad press shots. The pictures actually come from a couple of German retail listings for two tablets -- the IdeaPad B6000-F and B8000-F. The former is an 8-inch (1,280 x 800) slab of Jelly Bean (4.2) housing a 5-megapixel camera, 6,000 mAh battery and 1GB RAM / 16GB memory with a 1.2GHz MediaTek MT8125 quad-core chip. The IdeaPad B8000-F steps things up to a 10-inch display at the same resolution, and matches the spec-sheet of the 6000 apart from a much beefier 9,000 mAh battery. Prices shown start at 215 euros for the smaller, rising to 280 for the bigger screen. As for Lenovo? You know where we are if you ever fancy going back to using a good old-fashioned press release.

Via: MobileGeeks
Source: Sixpol, Top Elektronikwelt

Acer Iconia W4 tablet spotted at event with Bay Trail chip, IPS display (video)

There have been persistent rumors of an upgraded Acer Iconia W3 tablet with an IPS display and, quite possibly, a faster Bay Trail-based processor. Those rumors are now reality, as Bouweenpc.nl has just tried an unannounced Iconia W4 at an Intel event. True to expectations, the 8-inch device was carrying both the new 1.33GHz Atom Z3740 processor and a much improved "wide view angle" (read: IPS) screen. Not much else may change, however -- the pre-release slate still carried the W3's 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Given that the W4 is running Windows 8.1, we wouldn't be surprised if it reaches the market sometime around the Windows update's launch in October. Check out Bouweenpc.nl's hands-on video after the break.