Tablets

Mobile World Congress: The year's best smartphone party

As I write this, CNET writers from three countries are traveling to Barcelona, Spain, to bring you the best of the annual Mobile World Congress trade show.

If you're a smartphone fan, you probably know that Mobile World Congress (MWC) is a big deal. And if you don't know about it but still love gadgets and technology, there are very good reasons why you should care. I'll explain.

Full Mobile World Congress coverage from CNET

To put it simply, MWC is the most important wireless trade show of the year. It's bigger than CES (where, no … Read more

Microsoft is cooler than it used to be, say half of those polled

Is Microsoft a cooler company than it was in the past? Some people certainly think so.

Among 853 people between the ages of 18 and 29 questioned in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, half believe the software giant is cooler than it was a year or two ago. Though 50 percent may not be a resounding endorsement, it topped the coolness factor for a couple of other tech players.

Twitter was deemed cooler than in the past by 47 percent of the young adults polled, while Facebook got the same response from just 42 percent.

Microsoft's score is a promising … Read more

Samsung TV Discovery service launches this quarter

Samsung today revealed more details about its TV discovery service -- except for the finalized name for the U.S. version -- as the Korean electronics giant gears up for the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona.

Samsung first unveiled the service last month during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. At that time, it said users would be able to use one app to navigate all of their different video services on their smart TVs and tablets, and use their mobile devices as remotes to control their TVs.

Today, it noted that the service will give consumers a … Read more

Surface won't dominate but it's a 'real business,' says Ballmer

Sales of Microsoft's Surface may not set the tablet world on fire, but CEO Steve Ballmer still sees a key role for the device.

In an interview published today by MIT Technology Review, Ballmer snuck past the initial question of whether he was pleased with Surface sales.

"I'm super-glad we did Surface," Ballmer said in response. "I think it is important -- and not just for Microsoft but for the entire Windows ecosystem -- to see integrated hardware and software."

But the CEO did concede that Surface isn't likely to dominate the PC … Read more

Tablet Tuesday: Get a Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 for $598

If you're eyeballing a tablet with business purposes in mind, a convertible might be the best way to go. You get a full-size QWERTY keyboard when you need one and nothin' but screen when you don't.

And if it helps you to stay in the Windows ecosystem, well, you need a Windows-powered convertible. Like this one: Lenovo has the IdeaPad Yoga 11 Windows RT convertible for $599 shipped when you apply coupon code USPYOGA2C214 at checkout. (Sales tax may apply in some states.) That's a full $200 off the original price.

If that code doesn't work/… Read more

Charge your iPad from any USB port for $5

At CES last month I encountered Digital Innovations' ChargeDr, a small USB dongle that promised to do the seemingly impossible: boost the power output of a typical USB port, thus allowing it to charge an iPad (or other tablet).

I got it home, tested it, and discovered that, hey, it actually works! Technically speaking, there's no actual power boosting going on, but who am I to argue with this weird science? Without the dongle, my iPad says "not charging." With it: "charging."

And my tests bear out the claim. My iPad 3 went from 30 percent to 75 percent in about 2.5 hours. Not bad for a lowly USB port.… Read more

Get a Microsoft Surface RT 32GB tablet for $424

Microsoft's Surface RT tablet has seen its share of headlines since it debuted in October -- not all of them good.

For example, last month a patch prevented some users from accessing the Windows Store, and before that, the 32GB Surface RT was revealed to have only 16GB of available storage.

Well, hey, bugs are to be expected in any OS, and cheap microSD cards can solve your storage problems. The bigger question: Are you willing to pay $499 for that tablet?

If not, how about this: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Staples has the Microsoft Surface RT 32GB tablet for $424 shipped (… Read more

Get a Kobo Mini e-reader for $59.99

Tablets are great and all, but if you're mostly into reading, it's hard to beat an e-reader. Eye-friendly screens, ultra-light designs, amazing battery life -- the perks go on and on.

And let's not forget price. Amazon's entry-level Kindle is now down to $69. But here's an even more wallet-friendly option: Best Buy has the Kobo Mini e-reader for $59.99 shipped (plus sales tax). That's for the white model; the black one literally sold out while I was writing this post.

So that's only a $10 difference, right? And when you factor … Read more

Tablet Thursday: Get a Motorola Xoom 2 + 4G LTE for $219 shipped

So here's something I didn't know: When Motorola released the inevitable successor to its popular Xoom tablet, it was called the Xoom 2 -- in Europe. Here in the U.S., Motorola decided to call it the Droid Xyboard.

Droid Xyboard. I'll let that sink in for a moment. That may not rank among the dumbest tech-product names of all time, but it's up there.

How about we just agree to call it the Xoom 2 and get on with our lives, 'kay? Good. Today only, and while supplies last, Daily Steals has the refurbished Motorola Xoom 2 + 4G LTE tablet for $219 shipped. … Read more