A new breed of smartphones has emerged at the ICES (International Consumer Electronics Show) recently. In this giant gadget manufacturer meet that was portrayed as an amazing event as per the live reports from the event, a race of smartphones made a mark. This was an event where a lot of gadgets were on display, produced by different manufacturers all round the globe. The gadgets that were put on display in the event ranged everything from the head mounted headphones to a variety of amazing phones and computers.

But the same event also carried some bad and frustrating news for the customers of Sprint and AT&T who established a cutting edge for 4G smartphones in the previous year. So, the real problem vests with the fact that this phone will soon be outdated. When it came to tapping into the all new and faster fourth generation networks, Sprint Nextel and AT&T Mobility were the first two companies to have unveiled some of the first league of smartphones.

This new class of smartphones that emerged at the ICES may be an attempt to stand against its potential contemporaries. Over the time, launching 4G network from Sprint is continuously being talked about. And the talks had been doing rounds since the successful launch of the previous one, way back in 2008. This followed the launch of its premier phone, HTC’s Evo 4G in the preceding year. In the meanwhile, it was AT&T that begun adding the short, impressive yet a powerful word “4G” to almost all its smartphones names recently.

But the progress does not take a backseat here! AT&T and Sprint, two of the largest U.S. cellular carriers are actually working hard to get another 4G system on the front. LTE (Long Term Evolution) will be an additional thing to the two mobile carrier giants. This was made available so that it can compete with the wireless version of Verizon that was launched almost a year back.

If T-Mobile USA is to be believed then it has 4G that stands quite similar to the old 4G service of AT&T but the talks about the plans for the 4G LTE deployment is still pending. It’s unclear how AT&T and Sprint will be able to explain to their customers more on the investments they have made in order to have one of the most talked about technology. This seems unclear also because both AT&T and Sprint have earlier exhausted the usage of 4G in marketing.

Last year, it was at the CES where Verizon hosted two high profile news conferences and also went into operating huge sales promotion booth so that the official launch of its 4G network receives promotion too. On the contrary, things this year appeared different since it was visible how the company managed to keep a low profile at the most talked about event.

AT&T announced eight of the new LTE products at CES that included the smartphones and tablets. Now the first LTE based windows phone better known as Lumia 900 is expected to arrive in March. Before the announcement of the break-up of T-mobile, the first ever 4G LTE phones for AT&T already hit the stores in November, last year.

Sprint at the CES announced three new and amazing gadgets that included Samsung phones, a portable wireless hotspot and Galaxy Nexus that is a product of Samsung & Google partnership. It’s expected that Sprint’s new 4G LTE network will surpass its older versions with the elimination of slower 4G network too.

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This is a guest post by Emily Steves, who is associated with various internet security related companies as their freelance and staff writer. She has been linked with some of the best web media companies and offers various ways for internet solutions. She excels in writing articles related to internet security, internet plans, best broadband, comcast deals, etc. 

At CES 2012, ViewSonic is announcing three new Android tablets for low-mid U.S markets. The first, known as the ViewSonic E70, runs the latest and greatest Ice Cream Sandwich platform on board, along with a 7-inch WVGA touchscreen on top of the slate and a 1GHz CPU, 4GB of internal storage, WiFi, micro-HDMI out, a front-facing camera, optional 3G connectivity, and micro-SD slot under the lid. This one will be ready for shipping somewhere towards the end of March for ONLY $169, which makes it very competitive price-wise, with the additional upgrades. The second, the ViewPad 10e, will go on sale by the end of the month for $299, and reportedly sports a 10-inch IPS display, paired with a robust 9.1mm chassis, a 1Ghz Cortex A8 CPU and either Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich for the OS, to be determined later, after the show. And last but not least, is the 10-inch (1280×800) ViewSonic ViewPad 10pi, that houses a 1.5GHz Intel Oak Trail z670 chip, powered by dual-boot of Android 2.3 and Windows 7 OS. Now, frankly speaking, we’re not a huge fans of those two different platforms, running together under one slugish roof. It’s slow, very choppy and not a good user-friendly / user experience we, the gadget lovers, are striving for while we’re watching a video or surfing the net. That said, we leave it to your discretion, as long as you’re willing to pay $849 for it. Check out the videos after the jump.

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You really can’t expect much in a tablet that is so cheap. That, however, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy yourself one, especially if you are struggling to end the month with a positive cash flow. for those who would settle for the second best or just the average tablet device, we would highly recommend getting this brand new $79 Ice Cream Sandwich slate from Ainovo, also known as the Novo7 Paladin tablet. And while we’ve already seen some NOVO7 creatures running an Android 4.0 OS  inside their guts, this one, now available in China, runs a bit cheaper at around $79 or so. In addition to the lower rates, we’re looking at a 7-inch 800 x 480 multitouch display, packed with a MIPS-based 1GHz single core processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage,  a GC860 GPU, a 3.5mm jack and miniUSB/microSD ports. Unfortunately $79 probably won’t actually buy you GPS or integrated cameras, but it doesn’t really matter for us, is it? Anyway, make sure to check out the video after the break.

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CES is always a good time to prepare a roll-out strategy for brand new products around the world. And while there’s no official word from Asus yet, we hear that the company plans to launch its own 7-inch Eee Memo Pad tablet, at the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow which will take place in Vegas from January 10th to January 13th, 2012. A firm release date has not been set, but judging from a recent leak, we do know it  will be available with a 1,280 x 800 capacitive touchscreen display, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, WiFi, 3G connectivity and 16, 32 or 64GB of storage capacities at your choice. The full details are yet to be disclosed, and all that’s left is for you to decide which configuration suits you best and which package will you get: this one or the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. Tough decisions!

Update: As it turns out, Asus is planning to offer TWO new Memo Pad devices and not just one as we had earlier thought. The first, the Eee Pad MeMO (ME171) that we’ve already seen before, packs a 7-inch WXGA 1,280 x 800 IPS capacitive touchscreen, along with  a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm 8260 processor, 1GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR,  a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera plus 5 megapixel rear camera, GPS, gyroscope, proximity sensor, 16GB / 32GB of storage capacities, and  a micro-USB port. The 4,400mAh Li-polymer battery inside will be able to deliver up 8.5 hours of video time, on average, powered by the latest Android 4.0.1 Os running atop. General availability is scheduled for Q2 2012 in the U.S.

The second device, the  ME370T – A 7-inch  quad-core tablet, powered by a Tegra 3 chip, is likely to run an Android Ice Cream Sandwich under the hood, paired with a WiFi-only connectivity an 8 megapixel camera behind its back and some other goodies that you’ll just have to wait patiently for them a few weeks more. Video (courtesy of  netbooknews) and Full PR after the break. 

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While most of us have already forgotten about netbooks, Asus is said to launch a new line of ultra-mini laptops a few moments ahead of CES 2012. Now, whether it will be at hit is another question, but in the meantime, we’re talking about the next generation of netbook devices, dubbed Eee PC Flare, which boasts some nice and vivid seashell covers that hide underneath the new N2600 and N2800 Atom CPUs, 12-inch displays, powered by AMD’s Fusion APU lineup and those fancy chiclet keyboards. For now, the Taiwanese corp is planning to launch two models in that size: The 1225B AMD Fusion and 1225C with Cedar Trail, but if rumors are correct, we should expect some 10-incher flavors in the long term, as well (with the 1025C and 1025CE versions). Stay tuned for much more to come.

Update: As promised, we have some more details about the new collection of netbooks from Asus, called Eee PC Flare. Basically, there are four major models included: At 10-inch, there’s the 1025C that comes with a 1.6GHz Atom N2600 dual-core GPU, 1GB of DDR3-1333 memory, an integrated Intel UMA graphics, built-in Altec Lansing stereo speakers, three USB 2.0 ports,  802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity, 2-in-1 media card reader, VGA / HDMI outputs, a six-cell battery, and 0.3 megapixel webcam up front. It will be offered for $299 with one of the following flavors: Red, Blue, Gray, Pink, and last but not least, there’s a Windows 7 for the OS running on board. The Eee Pc Flare 1025CE is pretty much the same, only with a 1.86GHz Atom N2800 dual-core processor and a few more bucks ($319) to cover the cost.

On to the 12.1-inch models, the 1225B includes a 1.6GHz AMD E-450 dual-core CPU, a a 1,366 x 768 screen resolution, 2GB of DDR3-1333 memory, integrated Intel graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, a 2-in-1 media card reader, a six-cell battery, and a  a 0.3 megapixel webcam on top. It comes with a Windows 7 Home Premium and ships next month in black, red and white colors. The last one in that group is the Eee PC X101CH version that is aimed at entry-level users, with a 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 display, 1GB of RAM, integrated graphics, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and VGA ports. It’ll only set you back $269 and not a penny more.

[via Notebook Italia]

If you think you’ve seen it all, think again, because the way it looks we are only at the very beginning, at least as far as tablets world’s concerned. No, seriously, has any of you people ever thought about the idea of adding projectors to your slates? Well, MSI did, and it seems they have been able to put together a demo unit and present it to everyone during the CES show, back in early January. Basically, it’s just the same MSI tablet we’ve already seen before, with a 10-inch display, Intel’s Atom processor and a Windows 7 platform on board. Only this time, with an integrated swivel projector added on top. And while most details are scarce, it is said to include wall screening capabilities, along with rotation features and even some sort of a virtual laser projected keyboard that will work on any surface at your choice. Remember, this is just a concept version, but we’re very excited to see the outcome. Make sure you check out the video, right after the break.

[via TBreak]

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In the inevitable storm of Android tablets set to rain down on us this coming year, one thing’s for sure: it won’t be easy for smaller manufacturers to distinguish themselves apart. Not to mention creating a buzz. But that doesn’t mean we won’t see them, right? Right. Korean Enspert, for instance, is a good way to illustrate our thoughts, because most people have probably never heard of them before, and yet thankfully, it didn’t stop them from launching an Android tablet of their own. And if you’re still reading, here’s what the company’s 7-inch Identity Tab E301 slate (yep, that’s the full name) is going to boast: Generally speaking, we’re looking at a $350 tablet with 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen resolution, alongside a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of internal flash storage, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a mini USB hub, and HDMI port. In addition to that, there’s a 4100mAH battery pack preloaded inside, a microSD, optional 3G-enabled version, and last but not least, dual webcams – a 5 megapixel unit on the back, and another at 1.3 megapixel, up front. In a first move, the Asian corp says it has already started selling its latest and greatest merchandise locally, while US invasion is expected to take place in cooperation with a major wireless carrier during a back-to-school launch, in the coming months or so. And while you’re waiting, make sure you check out the quick hands-on preview along with the full PR announcement, half past the break.

Update: There seems to be one or more than one Identity Tab models out there, as it would appear on a recent pre-order page that has recently emerged at  Dynamism‘s online store. The other version, Identity Tab E201U, which will run on Google’s Android Froyo platform (with both Gmail and Android Market preloaded inside), boasts that same 7-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen display on top, along with a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, PowerVR SGX540 for the graphics and one single SD card slot. Ship date pushed back to February 1st while pre-order price tag is standing at $349. Full specs after the break.

[via liliputing]

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We’ve first seen them back in June as the WindPad 100 and 110, and now at CES 2011, they will actually come out as the WindPad 100W and WindPad 100A, as MSI recently announced it. And while there’s really nothing new in terms of design, spec wise there seems to be signs of great improvement (though it still feels a bit sluggish). As said, this is going to be another addition to MSI’s 10-inch portfolio of Windows 7 and Android slates, which due to ship within three months or so. The first model, the WindPad 100W, is said to sport a 1.66GHz Atom Menlow Z530 CPU along with 2GB of RAM, 32GB SSD and Windows 7 OS on board. While the second, which boasts an Android platform under the lid, together with a full Android Market access, packs a ARM Cortex A8 chip, paired with 1GB of RAM, duo webcams, HDMI out, SD card and USB ports. Prices are yet to be announced, but ’till then, hit the jump to watch the video or read the full PR.

Update: It looks like MSI’s 10-inch 100W slate is now being offered on Simply Electronics for a whopping $709.95. That’s way too much for a Windows 7 Starter device, if you’re asking us. Anyway, it’s your call, but you’d probably better wait until mid-February or so.

[via NetbookNews]

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Panasonic is about to join the overcrowded group of international tablet doers, and tinge everything with something of its own color. The Japanese Corp, that recently held a press conference at CES 2011, has officially announced a new line of three Android Froyo tablets, equipped with either 4, 7, or 10-inch displays on top of the slate, and similar hardware specs under the hood. The company, that is well known for its unmatched expertise in the field of screening technology, is said to put its latest and greatest Viera Connect software solution in all three models, which means a seamless connectivity between tablet content and your big flat TV screen. In addition to that, Panasonic has also added a very convenient home theater remote controlling feature within, so that you won’t miss the many fun and entertaining events that take place around the globe. And while price and availability details are still missing, full PR is just after the break.

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Of course we’ve already seen Dell tease us all with its upcoming 7-inch Android tablet, back in September. But today we finally get a chance to see a real unit of Dell’s production model, this time with a few more details, worth knowing, attached and the oh-so-not-surprising “Streak 7″ moniker. And while availability or pricing are still particularly vague – excluding the rumors that indicate a release “in the coming weeks” – other specifications include an Android 2.2 platform (and potentially upgrade to 3.0?), paired with a Gorilla Glass-protected touchscreen, 16GB of storage, a 1.3MP front-facing camera (plus 5mp on the back) and a powerful 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor to improve your overall graphics and let you watch high-res content on board. Full PR plus Dell’s commercial video right after the break.

Update1: Are you curious about the inner part of the hottest Dell Streak 7? Make sure to check out the disassembling video right after the break.

Update2: And yet another quick hands-on video that you can watch after the break. This time in one piece

Update3: T-Mobile will be offering the 7-inch, Android Froyo slate, powered by 4G capabilities and equipped with NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 graphics, starting February 2nd, for $199.99 on a two-year contract (including a $50 mail-in rebate), or just $450 off contract.

Update4: And looks like Dell’s WiFi-only Streak 7 tablet officially goes live in the UK, with prices starting at £299 (about $485), and specs that include pretty much the same lineup (3G capabilities aside): a 7-inch (800 x 480) touchscreen, paired with a Tegra 2 dual-core CPU, 16GB of storage, a rear 5 megapixel camera, and another one at 1.3 megapixel up front. Regretfully, there’s “only” Android 2.2 running on board, but hopefully a Honeycomb update will be available for this device, somewhere before the Fall.

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Samsung has some very good news for those of you who can’t afford themselves spending over $600 on a very expensive tablet, or simply could not conceive of the idea of signing up a 2 years contract with a mobile carrier. As per a plan that the Koreans are currently working on, Samsung will soon have its very own 3G-free Galaxy Tab machine, that will carry 16GB of storage on board, along with up to 32GB of expendable microSD slot. And while Sammy is vouching for a Q1 release in the US, pricing details are still unknown. But be sure it’s going to be a lot more cheaper. Press release after the break.

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If you think you’ve seen it all, then you need to check out Motorola Xoom that has recently been unveiled at the company’s stand at CES 2011 and surely looks quite promising. The 10.1-inch tablet that runs Google’s most anticipated Android 3.0 platform (Honeycomb) inside its bowels, along with a 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 chip for extended graphics use, and a high-resolution screen (1280 x 800) for 720p video quality, is likely to go live somewhere around Q1, while 4G connectivity will hopefully become available in Q2 of this year. Other then that it is yet another tablet with 32GB of storage, integrated WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 5 megapixel HD video camera at the back plus a front-facing camera, up front. Pricing details are yet to be determined, but there’s couple of videos and PR blurbs just after the break.

Update1: Motorola’s Latin America GM, Maurizio Angelone, has just confirmed the upcoming release of a WiFi-only Xoom tablet. According to Infobae, the company’s most hyped Android 3.0 device, that is claimed to include a built-in barometer alongside  an accelerometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor and gyroscope, will first arrive in April of this year, which is almost a month earlier than Motorola’s 3G-enabled Xoom edition. Still no word about prices though.

Update2: Android Central has managed to obtain an inside document that lists Motorola’s flagship Android Honeycomb device (AKA: Xoom) along with some other cool products, at $800 bucks. Are you willing to pay that much for an Android tablet?

Update3: And latest news say that the Motorola Xoom (powered by an Android 3.0 platform) is finally set for official US release on February 17th, priced at $699.99. Stay tuned.

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The Consumer Electronics Show 2011 (CES) is perhaps the best place to introduce your brand new products, especially when it comes to tech and gadgets. Velocity Cruz, a company that has already launched a couple of Android devices before, is one firm that wisely showed up in order to launch and promote its latest and greatest Android tablets lineup, which comprises of three different models: the 7-inch Cruz Tablet L37 that packs a 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, along with 4GB of storage, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, dual webcams In the back and in the front, a bunch of brightly colored buttons on the left edge, and a a microHDMI output port. Up next, we have the Cruz Tablet P38 that boasts pretty much the same specs, only with a slightly higher screen resolution – a 1024 x 768. and finally, the flagship version, Cruz Tablet L510, that features a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 display, paired with a 1GHz dual-core processor and NVIDIA’s Tegra 250 chipset for the graphics. All three versions are expected to arrive in different markets, sometime this year, preloaded with Amazon’s Kindle app and Google’s android OS platform running on board. Hit the jump for full PR.

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Wel…well…well, what do we have in here? Guess it’s Google’s future android 3.0 platform (Honeycomb) that Mountain View has specifically designed to compliment and match tablets UI. To put it in different words, the 3.0 version is “Entirely for Tablet” – and boy! it looks great! But instead of crafting words, just checkout Google’s video to get a better impression.

Update: Looks like Google has just issued an early build of its upcoming Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system. So if any of you Android Developers just so happen to log on, make sure to check out the platform’s uncompleted SDK version including the APIs. Video preview after the break.

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Remember Acer’s mysterious 10.1-inch android-tablet which we’ve already seen in New York City back in November, last year? Well, there it is, live and kickin’ in NVIDIA’s booth at CES 2011, rising up again – this time with a brand new name – Acer Iconia Tab A500. Generally speaking, this is Acer’s first serious attempt to take on the iPad, and it’s a worthy one, no doubt. With “10 point multitouch” screen, Nvidia Tegra 2 chip, a built-in gyroscope and hopefully, Google’s android Gingerbread running inside, you can’t go wrong, can you? Especially when it’s going to take advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network. As for the UI, we’re looking at “Acer UI 4.5″ that the company has skinned atop the the Android OS, while other specs include a bunch of embedded ports such as HDMI out, a full-sized USB plus a micro-USB one, a dock connector on the bottom, and 1080p along with 3D gaming support. Still no price or availability dates to share at the moment, but ’till then, Engadget has the hands-on video that you can find along with the Full PR, after the break.

Update1: Acer has just confirmed the UK pricing for its forthcoming Iconia Tab A500 tablets lineup and it’s pretty much within the iPad range: The WiFi-only flavors (Windows 7 or Android OS) will run you for £449 each, while the 3G-enabled W500 version will set you back for £529 when it officially gets out in the UK on April 8th. Still no word about the A500 pricing numbers.

Update2: And looks like the US official price is going to be more competitive than we originally thought, or in other words, the 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) Android Honeycomb tablet which boasts a 1GB of RAM along with a dual-core 1GHz Tegra 250 and dual cameras on the back (5MP) and up front (2MP), will set you back for only $450 on Best Buy retail stores while shipping starts on April 24. Let the competition begin!

Update3: It seems that Acer’s new Iconia Tab A500 is finally listed for sale on Best Buy. Apparently, this is the WiFi-only version of Acer’s brand new tablet and it will set you back for $450. In exchange you’re getting all the good specs we’ve already mentioned, including a Tegra 2 chip, paired with a 10.1-inch display, 16GB of storage, USB 2.0 hub and 802.11b/g/n WiFi connectivity.

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It’s not just about tablets or smartphones these days, there’s also a very fine line of netbook devices getting released. And the latest in that “still-relevant” category is Toshiba’s ultra-portable series that includes the Mini NB505 and the Mini NB305 machines, both said to have 1GB of RAM, along with a 250GB hard drive, nice chiclet keyboard and Windows 7 Starter for the OS. However, while the Mini NB505 packs an Intel Atom N455 processor and runs for $300, the Mini NB305 which appears to be a bit more powerful, comes with a dual-core Atom N550 processor and costs eighty bucks more ($380). In addition to that, both versions will be offered in wide range of bright and vivid colors at your choice, so if netbooks are still your thing – go for it.

Asus just kicked out two new 10.1-inch tablets, powered by Nvidia Tegra 2 for the graphics and a pair of QWERTY sliding keyboard mods that miraculously  turn them into light and portable laptops. Sort of. But you have to admit it’s still convenient to type on physical keys rather than the virtual alternative. Basically, there are two models that fall within this category: The Eee Pad Slider (to the left) that boasts a IPS, 1280 x 800 resolution touchscreen with some sort of mechanism that looks exactly like a slider mobile phone (where the screen slides in and out), and the Eee Pad Transformer which probably got its inspiration from Lenovo’s U1 Hybrid laptop – and that means a detached screen which you can reattach to the typing base at your own will. And while the slider weights only 2.2 pounds and packs up to 1 GB of memory along with 16/32GB of storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, optional 3G connectivity, HDMI out, mini USB, a 1.2mp front facing camera plus a 5mp one (with LED flash on the back) and a MicroSD card slot, the Transformer on the other hand, boasts pretty much the same, only with one extra USB hub, a card reader and battery pack that is claimed to deliver up to 16 hours of work. And best of all, both devices will arrive preloaded with Google’s android 3.0 platform, which you might also know as Google’s Honeycomb. As for prices, Asus says that you’ll have to shell out between $500 to $800 for the Slider and about $400 and $700 for the Transformer flavor. availability is rumored for early Q2. Full specs after the break.

Update1: We’ve added a couple of  hands-on videos, courtesy of JkkMobile. Check ‘em out after the break.

Update2: We now hear rumblings that Asus’ latest and greatest hybrid model, known as the Transformer, is going to live in the UK around May or June for £379 ($595), while the base unit will cost you a £100 ($155) more. As for the Slider version – which seems even more attractive IMHO – word on the street is that we’re looking at a July / August release with a whopping £429 ($675) price tag.

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We’ve all seen the teaser ads and now, the much anticipated Eee Slate EP121 tablet from Asus is finally here. The 12.1-inch wonder that comes with a very impressive 1280 x 800 IPS display and said to include a Wacom digitizer support, will be offered by the Taiwanese giant with a Windows 7 OS on board. Yes, a Microsoft Windows platform for a change. Specs wise, we’re looking at one of the most powerful tablets ever manufactured, with Intel’s Core i5-470UM processor, paired with up to 4GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. WOW! in case you’re wondering, the stylus pen which Asus has also included can serve you better when it comes to freehand sketching or simply for taking notes. Wanna make a video conference or pump your HD videos on your flat screen TV? No problem at all. The EP121 comes fully equipped with a front facing camera and a single HDMI port. Sounds great, isn’t it? Absolutely yes, but not if you are broke. To put it into numbers, it’ll actually start at $1,000 for the basic unit, with availability in stores set for later this month. Full specs after the break.

Update: Asus is currently offering via Amazon a pre-order deal for its upcoming Eee Slate EP121, that will save you some green on a future purchase. The 12.1-incher, that was recently introduced, has just arrived to amazon’s online store, and for a limited time is being offered for only $999. We all want it badly, aren’t we?

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So, Lenovo is officially back to this netbooks/tablets game after freezing its high-end U1 Hybrid project for a while in order to do some serious thinking. And as we’ve said, they are back again, appear ready and able to kick some real ass with what’s now being called the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid with LePad tablet. So what has changed, you’re asking? The new skin version is now powered by Google’s Android 2.2 version (called LeOS) instead of the sluggish Linux Skylight platform. Additionally, you’ll be getting even more powerful processors inside, as the U1 base unit is now equipped with a 1.2GHz Intel Core i5-540UM (optional i7) and the LePad tablet boasts a 1.3GHz Snapdragon flavor. Design wise, the netbook station now has a nice and more efficient chiclet keyboard within, along with a dimpled trackpad at the bottom and an overall sense of high and lavish style. Other than that, we’re glad to see substantial improvements in the LePad screen as well. The 10.1-incher is much more responsive than its sluggish and resistive predecessor, and seems to have a 1280 x 800 capacitive multitouch panel on board. Switching between Windows (base unit) to Android (tablet) is as simple as docking and undocking the LePad unit from its U1 platform. The process for itself often seems super fast when it comes to disconnecting between the two devices, while a bit slower the other way around. As for pricing and availability, the LePad is coming at ya (in case you live in China) sometime this quarter with a base price of $520, while the full package, including both the tablet and the U1 unit will run you for a whopping $1300. Expensive! Regretfully, there’s no further info about US availability at the moment, but you can take a look at. Engadget’s Joanna Stern hands-on video or read the full PR after the break.

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Lenovo has just rolled out a new line of S series netbooks (not to be confused with the previous line) that includes the IdeaPad S205 which comes with an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 16:9 widescreen display, paired with an AMD dual-core E-350 processor, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and a bunch of storage capacities at your choice and up to 750GB HDD, max. Naturally, there’s a 802.11b/g/n WiFi connection inside, along with a 6-in-1 card reader, an optional 3G, HDMI output and 3 X USB 2.0 ports. Up next in that group is the IdeaPad S100 which boasts a 10.1-inch display, tucked with a dual-core Intel Atom N570 CPU, up to 2GB of DDR3 RAM, Intel’s GMA 3150 for the graphics and 320GB of storage on board. Other specs worth the mention  are the 802.11b/g/n WiFi connection, Bluetooth, a 2-in-1 card reader, 2MP webcam and couple of USB 2.0 ports. At this point we should add that both devices are said to be available  at the beginning of March, with prices that start at as low as $329. Hit the jump to read the full PR.

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