General Gaming Article

Samsung Reportedly Picks Intel Chip for Galaxy Tab 3 10.1

Posted: 31 May 2013 09:54 PM PDT

Many reports point to big tablet design win for Intel

Thus far, Intel's attempts at making a dent in the ARM-dominated tablet market have been mostly unsuccessful. But the chipmaker may finally be able to turn the corner, if recent reports that Samsung, the world's second-largest tablet vendor, has chosen one of Intel's x86 chips for an upcoming Android tablet are accurate.

The tablet in question is the next iteration of the South Korean company's flagship 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab, a direct rival to the 9.7-inch Apple iPad, and the latest such report comes from the venerable news agency Reuters, which got the information from an unnamed "source with knowledge of the plans."

According to the report, the Korean electronics behemoth has chosen Intel's Clover Trail+ SoC for at least one variant of the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. Although its sources have told the news agency that Samsung is planning to unveil a bunch of new Windows "ATIV" tablets at a June 20 event in London, they aren't sure if the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 will also be announced at the same event.

This is neither the only nor the first report of its kind. VentureBeat was the first one to report about Intel's alleged "big score." Back in Samsung's native South Korea, the Korea Times also carried a similar report on Thursday.

Follow Pulkit on Google+

Report: HTC Had Plans for a 12-inch Windows RT Tablet

Posted: 31 May 2013 09:08 PM PDT

Project canceled due to fear of failure

HTC planned to enter the thinly populated world of Windows RT tablets with a 12-inch tablet, a new report claims, but eventually decided against it as fear of failure set in. It might still have enough confidence in Microsoft's ARM-friendly OS to try its hands at a more conventional form factor, though.

The decision to scrap plans for a 12-inch Windows RT tablet was, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources, taken in light of the tablet's high cost and platform's lack of popularity. Nonetheless, the sources claim, HTC hasn't given up on Windows RT altogether.

Instead, it now reportedly plans to launch a 7-inch Windows RT tablet around September or October. And, perhaps just to ensure that all its eggs are not in one basket, HTC is also said to be planning another 7-incher, albeit one that runs Android.

Many in the tech industry are of the view that smaller, sub 10-inch Windows 8/RT tablets can help Microsoft turn a corner in the tablet market. Although Microsoft made a number of changes to allow sub 10-inch tablets back in March, most vendors are waiting for the release of Windows 8.1 Blue update, which is expected to bring with it a number of features conducive to such tablets when it is released later this year.

Follow Pulkit on Google+

MMORPG Blog: Online Games MMO