Microsoft's Surface mini tablet is reportedly really real, but not really

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">Microsoft's Surface mini tablet is reportedly really real, but not really</span></h2> <b>According to a report, the rumored 8-inch “Surface mini” tablet is indeed real—although Microsoft has no plans to ship it. And that’s probably because you wouldn’t be interested in buying it, anyway.</b><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHit-LoMNYjGTDBkdnbTOfAxxEAK2T2H8iA5u22Ad3hqu20aWSi3xN4vxBcWpo8XXlAedtSZoEyFXGrzEuxuynQKUnP7L2KlaflzHzVH1brJdyMyVCSRDJ77w2B3SeKLvoadTTPYElfPZP/s1600/Microsoft's-Surface-mini-tablet-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHit-LoMNYjGTDBkdnbTOfAxxEAK2T2H8iA5u22Ad3hqu20aWSi3xN4vxBcWpo8XXlAedtSZoEyFXGrzEuxuynQKUnP7L2KlaflzHzVH1brJdyMyVCSRDJ77w2B3SeKLvoadTTPYElfPZP/s1600/Microsoft's-Surface-mini-tablet-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Microsoft's Surface mini tablet is reportedly really real, but not really</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> Although Microsoft has marketed the Surface line of tablets as productivity devices, the Surface mini is powered by Windows RT, running on top of just 1GB of RAM. Those specs were provided by Neowin, which said it's actually held and tested as Surface mini—although Neowin's source forbade photographs.<br /> <br /> That would essentially make the Surface mini a device for consuming content—and in limited fashion, as there simply aren’t too many applications written specifically for Windows RT these days. Any available apps would have to run on that anemic 1GB of RAM, which is less than what you’ll find in some smartphones these days.<br /> <br /> The cut-down specs are also less powerful than what other tablet manufacturers announced earlier this year. At CES, for example, Asus announced the VivoTab Note 8, powered by an Atom processor, Windows 8.1, and 2GB of RAM, and costing about $250 online. Since then, however, the trend has been to use Intel’s Atom Z3735G processor on tablets like the Acer Iconia Tab 8W, which supports only 1GB of RAM. Although per-application performance may not suffer, there are sure to be limits on how many tabs or apps you can have open at any one time.<br /> <br /> The problem for hardware makers, however, is that even with Microsoft’s decision toeliminate licensing fees for sub-9-inch devices, Windows tablet makers face steep competition from Android tablet makers, who aren’t afraid to use inexpensive ARM processors to reduce prices further. <br /> <br /> Finally, there’s there the issue of demand. Lenovo recently discontinued its 8-inch Windows tablets in the U.S., noting stronger interest in larger-size models. The company emphasized it wasn't pulling out of the category permanently, so that could indicate a retrenchment. Other manufacturers, including Microsoft, could also be reassessing their options.<br /> <br /> A Surface mini wouldn’t be a single-purpose device, although Neowin approvingly mentions that a Surface mini would be an excellent OneNote machine—and it comes with a stylus, too. Netflix has written a version of its app for Windows RT machines, and web apps would make up for other deficiencies. Still, a small screen, limited memory, and the Windows RT OS would make for a tough sell. And with Microsoft’s recent efforts to trim the fat, it would seem that killing the Surface mini would be one of Microsoft’s easier decisions.<br /> <br /> Microsoft representatives declined to comment. </div>

Microsoft's Surface mini tablet is reportedly really real, but not really

Microsoft's Surface mini tablet is reportedly really real, but not really According to a report, the rumored 8-inch “Surface mini” tab...

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Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October

<h2 style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue;">Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October</span></h2> <b>With all the iPhone 6 hoopla, Google must be eager to get its newest Nexus devices and Android L out into the wild. If another rumor is to be believed (this time from Android Authority), we could see an HTC-built Nexus tablet by October 16 and Android L on November 1.</b><br /><br />The story behind the story: Google typically unveils its newest Nexus hardware to showcase a major Android update. Nexus phones and tablets run an unskinned version of Android, free of hardware and carrier bloat, and are free from carrier lock-ins. Google partnered with Asus on the first two generations of the Nexus 7 tablet, butall rumors indicate that this time it's HTC's turn.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPXvrOKTN5OEYNyM9NfvY6Sbqdqc8deaO1oCQOD9Ab4FJqpzX8H7FGQatpMNKyS2js_9-9bz_iFgK-B9kmF7XslB_7mU4G36ZrMeqt0GwJsVPlWgBJKcjJvgVWosjWsSxD9CIPr-xajDy/s1600/Android-L-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPXvrOKTN5OEYNyM9NfvY6Sbqdqc8deaO1oCQOD9Ab4FJqpzX8H7FGQatpMNKyS2js_9-9bz_iFgK-B9kmF7XslB_7mU4G36ZrMeqt0GwJsVPlWgBJKcjJvgVWosjWsSxD9CIPr-xajDy/s1600/Android-L-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nexus tablet</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> With HTC making the newest Nexus tablet, we may soon hear more about the follow-up to the Nexus 5. Google is reportedly partnering with Motorola on a whopper of a phone, a 5.9-inch phablet codenamed Shamu. <br /><br />Google could go with an enormous device, given there are plenty of non-supersized Android phones out there, but it's hard to see something close to the Galaxy Mega held up as the latest and greatest of Android. Some rumors put the newest Nexus phone at a more modest 5.2 inches.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUj-9LR2_FhO3vndwiLW3tnROeagTiPFfbkE4DFsuLnyu7rvwHVPgkv2yB_QJ0tBva974VcmQlvdTZ0BaLo0nMtCOFxq9mbjoqOXGeMQvurnpWR5CCgVjtsMvqft2XZQ4CbFcBeqM5ahW/s1600/Android-L-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUj-9LR2_FhO3vndwiLW3tnROeagTiPFfbkE4DFsuLnyu7rvwHVPgkv2yB_QJ0tBva974VcmQlvdTZ0BaLo0nMtCOFxq9mbjoqOXGeMQvurnpWR5CCgVjtsMvqft2XZQ4CbFcBeqM5ahW/s1600/Android-L-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Android L</td></tr> </tbody></table> <div> Regardless of the specifics, we are definitely getting close to seeing how Google is going to step up its game in the face of record-setting iPhone sales. Though iOS 8's troubles could leave an opening in the minds of many who had thought about abandoning their larger Android-powered devices for the not-so-bendproof iPhone 6 Plus.<br /></div>

Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October

Android L hits November 1, newest Nexus tablet coming mid-October With all the iPhone 6 hoopla, Google must be eager to get its newest Nex...

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