ativ

Samsung recasts its Windows PC line as Ativ

Samsung is rebranding all of its Windows PCs as Ativ.

Ativ is Vita backward -- that's Samsung's reasoning -- and previously only applied to the Ativ Smart PC and Smart PC Pro, both Windows 8 tablets. (There was also the Ativ Tab, a Windows RT slate that never saw the light of day. And an Ativ S Windows Phone came out with little fanfare.)

"We hope our Ativ brand will see the same kind of traction and awareness that we have seen with our Galaxy brand, with consumers associating Ativ with Windows in the same way they … Read more

Microsoft Store slashes prices on Windows 8 tablets, hybrids

In what could be a sign of things to come, the Microsoft Store is slashing prices on a variety of hybrid laptop-tablet models.

Here are some of the highlights now appearing on the Microsoft Store "Tablets and Convertibles" page:

Toshiba Satellite U925t-S2130 Convertible Ultrabook: Cut to $799 from $1,149. 12.5-inch screen, Core i5 Intel chip, 128GB solid-state drive (SSD). ( Read the CNET review.) Acer Iconia W510-1674 Tablet: reduced to $399 from $499. 10.1-inch display, Intel Atom 1.8GHz "Clover Trail" Z2760 chip, 32GB SSD. ( Read the CNET review.) HP ENVY x2 11-g012nr Touchscreen: … Read more

Samsung's Windows RT tablet won't go to Germany, either

Windows RT is in a bit of trouble.

Samsung today told German news site Heise that it's changed its mind on releasing the Ativ Tab in Germany. Samsung had previously hoped to offer the tablet to German customers, but revealed to Heise that demand for Windows RT is low in the country, prompting it to rethink its strategy.

The news isn't all that surprising. The company told CNET in January that it wouldn't launch its Windows RT-based tablet in the U.S. because of low demand. Here's what Samsung senior vice president Mike Abary told CNET … Read more

Windows 8 iPad killers: Round 1

The iPad-killing Windows 8 tablet-laptop has arrived. Problem is, most aren't ready to dispatch the iPad -- or the MacBook Air for that matter -- yet.

So far, reviewers of shape-shifting Windows 8 tablets have not been kind. Otherwise known as "detachables," the devices can take the form of a standalone tablet or attach to a keyboard base to become a close facsimile of a full-fledged laptop. … Read more

An affordable entry-level Windows phone

The price of entry for Windows Phone devices has never been extremely high. The new Samsung Ativ Odyssey, which is available on Verizon for just $49.99, however, pushes the upfront cost of Windows Phone 8 down even further. This very capable device provides many of the compelling features Microsoft's latest mobile operating system has to offer. Still, with a less-than-stellar camera, a boring design, and a small screen, it faces stiff competition from Motorola's sleek Droid Razr M Android phone, which sells at the same price. For just $50 more, the HTC 8X offers a premium Windows … Read more

Eating your own, Microsoft style

Eat your own, or somebody else will. That's the new mantra in the device world.

Here's what Apple said this week on that topic.

In terms of cannibalization and how we think about this, I see cannibalization as a huge opportunity for us. One, our base philosophy is to never fear cannibalization. If we do, somebody else will just cannibalize it and so we never fear it. --Tim Cook.

This was said in response to an analyst's question during the company's first-quarter earnings conference call. Earlier in the call, Apple, in its prepared remarks, said that … Read more

Samsung Ativ Odyssey travelling to Verizon tomorrow

The Samsung Ativ Odyssey, first announced last fall at Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 launch event, will hit Verizon stores January 24. The decidedly mid-range handset will also cost a very affordable $49.99 after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract. … Read more

CES postscript: The touch laptop, like it or not

The laptop was reinvented at CES.

Or maybe I should say there was a vigorous attempt to reinvent the laptop. Because we won't know how successful touch has been until next year this time.

Intel's CES booth -- still a large presence in the CES Central Hall -- had one basic unmistakable message: touch has arrived.

Windows 8 convertibles, detachables, touch-screen laptops, and just plain tablets from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Samsung, Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Toshiba, Sony, and others blanketed Intel's booth.

And just to make sure the touch message was crystal clear, Intel issued an edict to PC … Read more

Samsung Ativ Odyssey pictures appear

A pair of likely photos of the Samsung Ativ Odyssey have surfaced online, thanks to reputable Twitter source @evleaks.

First announced last month, the Windows Phone 8 handset is expected to arrive at Verizon's doorstep in December, but the exact timing remains murky.

Details for the Ativ Odyssey have yet to be formally announced; rumors suggest it could feature a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor with an Adreno 225GPU. As indicated by these images, we can see that the handset will support Verizon's 4G LTE network and feature a microSD expansion card slot.

The early photos also … Read more

Samsung unveils Ativ S, world's first Windows Phone 8 device

If you've been wondering what the first dual-core Windows Phone would look like, this is it. Today, the Korean electronics giant took the wraps off the Samsung Ativ S, the world's first smartphone running Windows Phone 8.

The Ativ S (Ativ is "Vita" spelled backward) features a slim design, a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor. There's also compatibility for HSPA+42.

In addition, the Ativ S packs in a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and an LED flash, and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.

Taking full advantage of … Read more