With the mobile world, people have come to expect instant-on, always connected devices. First it was smartphones, and then tablets based off of mobile operating systems which offered the ability to have the device in a deep sleep state, but still a…
Earlier today Microsoft announced its 3rd generation Surface Pro device, aptly named the Surface Pro 3. This is the first Surface model to deviate from the 10.6″ 16:9 form factor of all four previous devices (Surface Pro, Surface RT, Surface Pro 2, Surface 2) and instead standardizes on a 12″ 3:2 form factor. The resulting device is also substantially thinner, now at 9.1mm (0.36″). Surface Pro 3 is now somewhere between the thickness of Surface 2 and Surface RT. Read on for our first hands on impressions, display and performance analysis.
We are live from NYC at Microsoft’s Surface Event. The live blog will begin at 11AM ET, check back soon!
We are live from NYC at Microsoft’s Surface Event. The live blog will begin at 11AM ET, check back soon!
Samsung has announced a new tablet aimed at the education market. The Galaxy Tab 4 Education is a 10.1” WXGA (1280×800) device built with a ruggedized chassis and designed to work with Google Play for Education.
Samsung is hoping that the tablet features and price appeal to those doing purchasing for school divisions. The Android 4.4 device is equipped with a 1.2 GHz quad core processor (actual model number unknown), 1.5 GB of memory, and 16 GB of storage. Battery life from the 6800 mAH battery is rated at 10 hours for the 1.08 lb tablet.
Also included is a microSD card slot for an additional 64 GB of storage, 802.11 a/b/g/n wireless, NFC and a HDMI port. Samsung also includes its customizations on Android including Multi Window.
The specifications are decidedly low end by any modern definition, but the goal of this device isn’t ultimate performance, but a rugged durable device with a price a school district can afford.
The tablet will be compatible with a future upgrade of Samsung School – an interactive classroom management solution – and for an additional $30 per device, the Google Apps for Education web console can be used to manage the device.
The device is available as of today for $369.99 through Samsung distribution and channel partners.
| 10″ Education Tablets | ||||||
| Galaxy Tab 4 Education | Asus Transformer Pad (Education) | iPad w/Retina | ||||
| Dimensions |
H: 9.58″ (243 mm) W: 6.94″ (176 mm) D: 0.31″ (7.9 mm) |
H: 10.13″ (257 mm) W: 7.02″ (178 mm) D: 0.39″ (9.9 mm) |
H: 9.5″ (241.2 mm) W: 7.31″ (186 mm) D: 0.37″ (9.4 mm) |
|||
| Weight | 1.08 lbs (490g) | 1.19 lbs (550g) | 1.46lbs (662g) | |||
| CPU | Quad Core Quallcomm (1.2 GHz) | Intel Bay Trail-T Z3740 (1.33 GHz) | Dual Core A6X (1.4 GHz) | |||
| GPU | N/A | Intel HD Graphics | PowerVR SGX 554MP4 | |||
| RAM | 1.5 GB LPDDR3 | 1 GB LPDDR3 | 1 GB LPDDR2 | |||
| Storage | 16 GB + 64 GB microSD | 16 GB + 64 GB microSD | 16 GB | |||
| Display Size and Resolution | 10.1″ 1280×800 | 10.1″ 1280×800 | 9.7″ 2048×1536 | |||
| Battery | 6800 mAh | N/A | 11,560 mAh | |||
| Price | $369 + $30 for Management Console | $269 + $30 for Management Console, optional keyboard dock $60 | $399 | |||
There is definitely some stiff competition in this space, with the Asus Transformer Pad education version coming in at a far lower cost, but without the ruggedized build. Apple’s iPad is also very successful in the K-12 education market.
Update: Samsung has confirmed to us that it’s a Qualcomm SoC, but wouldn’t disclose the exact part. This means it is likely a Cortex A7 CPU, but the rest of the details are unknown.