| Microsoft Announces Updates to Lync Services Posted: 23 Feb 2014 05:51 PM PST  Microsoft adding Android support and free Skype calls for businesses
Lync is a universal communication tool that many an office employs for daily usage, and this week was an important chapter in the client's life cycle. At Microsoft's Lync conference, announcements were made about the program that should have users who rely on the messenger excited for what's to come. Microsoft (via TechRadar) is adding an Android Lync client to the fold, completing the plethora of platforms you can already get it on, like Windows Phone, Windows, and iOS. Furthermore, businesses will be able to offer free Skype calls to their customers, as well as allowing HD video calls from Lync to Skype. Last but not least, voice calls and large meetings will be coming to Lync Online. It's all in a bid to further Microsoft's "Universal Communications" initiative, and some of these updates will be arriving by the end of June or by later this year. These alterations make sense in the context of Microsoft's Skype acquisition, and it'll be interesting to see what changes come from it in the future. |
| HP's Newly-Announced ElitePad 1000 Tablet Features 64-Bit Support Posted: 23 Feb 2014 03:44 PM PST  HP's thinnest tablet ever brings a plethora of updates
HP revealed a newly-redesigned model of its HP ElitePad 1000, sporting several upgrades and changes from the previous iteration. It's now rocking a brighter touch screen with augmented durability as well as support for 64-bit and 4G. It also happens to be the company's thinnest tablet so far, weighing 1.5 pounds and clocking in at 9.2 mm thick. The touch screen itself is a 10.1-inch multi-touch screen with 1920 x 1200 resolution. It supports up to 128 GB of internal storage with a microSD card slot for expansion. But there's more to it than what you can store on it. It's powered by Intel's quad-core Atom Z3795 clocked at 1.6 GHz, a 2-cell HP Long Life battery, and Intel graphics. If you choose to utilize it, you can also use an HP Executive Tablet Pen G2 to write on the device -- good for notes and the like. You can pick up the device starting in March, starting at $739. |
| Lenovo Announces Yoga 10 Tablet With HD Display Posted: 23 Feb 2014 11:45 AM PST  Larger display, but less battery life
Lenovo's Yoga tablet hasn't been out very long, having been announced last fall, but today Lenovo announced an update to the device that's quite pleasantly surprising. The Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ sports newer and updated hardware as well as some additional alterations to make it a lucrative buy for anyone looking for a new tablet to add to their collection. The Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ sports a higher resolution display of 1920 x 1080 with a quad-core Snapdragon processor clocked to 1.6 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, and up to 32 GB of storage. It also sports an 8-megapixel camera as well as a 1.6-megapixel camera on the back of the device. A 9000 mAh battery powers the device, and it ships with Android 4.3. Lenovo has promised an eventual over the air update for Android 4.4 as well. The tablet itself is svelte and comes with a built-in stand with which you can prop it up, and Lenovo claims you should be able to get up to 18 hours of battery life out of the battery, which happens to be the same as the original Yoga tablet. The increased size of the display will of course mean you get a little less life out of the same battery. You can nab Lenovo's latest effort in April for $349. Does the improved tablet sound like something you'd like to try out, or are the alterations too minor to consider upgrading for? |
