mini

Lenovo sees 7-inch tablets vying with phones, not PCs

Lenovo expects the growing market for 7-inch tablets to compete with large-screen smartphones, not PCs.

During the company's second-quarter earnings conference call Thursday, Lenovo Chief Executive Yang Yuanqing said he had just read a report on Apple's iPad Mini and was encouraged about the trend in the tablet market.

"The market accepts the 7-inch [tablet] better than the 10-inch. That's a very strong signal, the tablet will not replace the traditional PC," he said during the conference call.

Yuanqing continued. "Probably, the tablet will compete with the large-screen smartphone rather than the PC," … Read more

Reconciling the iPad Mini with Apple's Retina obsession

The iPad Mini is an exception to Apple's Retina obsession. Will that change?

David Hsieh, an analyst at DisplaySearch, tried to answer that question in a research note today, saying that Apple has become a victim of its own marketing success.

By creating a class of super-high-resolution Retina products -- including the iPad, iPod, iPhone, and MacBook Pro -- Apple has sparked an industry-wide scramble to match or exceed the resolution of its displays.

Apple created the term "Retina display" not just as a marketing phrase, but to educate end users about high resolution. Apple has been … Read more

Apple Byte: The iPad Mini Retina rumors start early

Apple crushes its previous first weekend for iPad sales, proving that people will still buy the latest shiny Apple toy. Having two different iPad models probably helped as well. One thing we do know is that stores didn't sell out. If you're holding out for that Retina Display, and you believe the rumor mills, they're already working on it for you.

The future of the iMac is going to look a lot different after reports that Apple is looking to eventually stop using Intel processors in favor of its own mobile processors. Those next-gen iMacs are going … Read more

The 404 1,161: Where we don't eat the snow (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Square launches mobile payment service at 7,000 Starbucks stores.

- Razer Naga gaming mouse requires always-on Internet connection; license agreement says they can use this to spy on you.

- Mr. Fusion (sorta) cell phone charger.

- Four African teenagers invent a urine-powered generator.

- Follow Bridget Carey on Twitter and check out CNET Update every afternoon!

- Don't forget to enter our Halloween Samsung Galaxy S3 Giveaway contest, ending this Sunday!… Read more

Bond guru predicts Apple's stock price will fall to $425

A noted bond investor expects Apple stock to continue its downward slide for a while, saying that the company seems to have lost its ability to innovate.

Jeffrey Gundlach, the CEO and co-founder of investment firm Doubleline Capital, told CNBC today that he expects Apple's stock price, which has declined more than 20 percent since September 19, to slip to as slow as $425. Shares were off 3.38 percent today, falling $22.20 to close at $558.

Gundlach said he has been struck by the "obsession" with Apple's stock. "It seems like every meeting … Read more

iPad Mini Retina rumor arrives early

Just days after the iPad Mini landed at stores and doorsteps, we have a tantalizing rumor from the Asia supply chain about a future Retina version of the 7.9-inch tablet.

Chinese-language DoNews said in a story dated November 7 that iPad Mini display maker AUO is working on a 2,048x1,536 pixel resolution display for the next iPad Mini.

That would be the same resolution of the 9.7-inch Retina display on the third- and fourth-generation iPads. And would translate to a 300-plus pixel density (versus the iPad 4's 264 pixels per inch) because you're packing … Read more

Drift HD Ghost action cam packs problem-solving features

With Drift Innovations' Drift HD Ghost, you can add one more action cam to the increasingly crowded market. But at least this one's a little more than another "me too" model.

Not the wide blocky design of camcorders like the GoPro, the Drift HD Ghost has a slimmer and longer body, like the iON Air or Sony Action Cam. Though the shape makes it less ideal for chest mounting, it is better for POV mounting on the side of goggles, masks, and helmets. The shape also gives it room for a built-in Gorilla Glass-protected 2-inch LCD for … Read more

iPad 4 now in stock at Apple Store

Consumers eyeing the fourth-generation iPad can now buy one through Apple's online store without any wait time.

The Apple Store shows all three flavors of the Wi-Fi-only edition now in stock. The 16GB version goes for $499, the 32GB version for $599, and the 64GB version for $699.

The new iPad's immediate availability is a change from the earlier shipping estimate of three to five business days. The status also is the same for Apple's online stores in the U.S. and abroad, a sign that the supply of the tablet seems to have caught up with … Read more

Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD 'outperform' iPad Mini display

A display expert echoed today what reviews have already said: the iPad Mini's display is not Apple's best display effort to date.

The Mini's display is "capable" but not great, said Raymond Soneira of DisplayMate Technologies in display "shoot-out" published today.

And it's rated lower than higher resolution displays of its main rivals in some key areas: the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD. "The displays on existing mini Tablets from Amazon and Google outperform the iPad mini in most of our lab tests," Soneira wrote.

And the … Read more