Samsung unveils laptop-tablet hybrid
Ativ Book Q can run on Windows 8 and Android software, as company also reveals Galaxy S4 Zoom and smart camera
Samsung’s Ativ Book Q, unveiled on Thursday, can run on Windows 8 and Android software – the company also revealed the Galaxy S4 Zoom smartphone
Samsung has unveiled the a hybrid device for those bewildered by the ever increasing array of computer shapes and operating systems – a tablet which doubles as a laptop and runs Windows 8 and Androidsoftware.
The Ativ Book Q, unveiled at a Samsung event in London on Thursday, has a screen and a keyboard. A system of hinges mean that when in tablet mode, the screen folds to cover the keyboard, when in PC mode the screen is propped upright as on a laptop. And when watching films or showing a presentation, the screen flips right over into stand mode.
The device is slim, at 14mm, and weights 1.29kg. Its touch screen is 13.3in and also works with a stylus. Two weeks ago, rival manufacturer Asus unveiled a similar hybrid which also runs Microsoft and Google software.
"Addressing a common desire among PC users to be able to access Android apps on a Windows-based PC, the Ativ Q allows you to now experience both Windows 8 and Android Jellybean 4.2.2 on the same device," Samsung said. "Not only will you get access to Android apps via Google Play, but you will also be able to transfer files or share folders and files from Windows 8 to Android."
Continuing on the hybrid theme, Samsung confirmed the arrival of its Galaxy S4 Zoom, which runs on Android software, and unveiled a professional grade camera, the Galaxy NX, with interchangeable lenses which can send images over 4G and 3G mobile phone networks.
Also running on Android, the camera has a 20.3 mega-pixel resolution and can be fitted with a series of lenses, from compact pancake to ultra-wide fisheye, and longer zoom. It shoots video, in both 2D and 3D. Pictures and video can be edited on the camera's screen before being uploaded for sharing.
With smartphones already denting sales of basic point-and-shoot cameras, the Zoom has the potential to further depress sales of photographic equipment.
Samsung is under pressure to deliver a best seller. Banks have cut their profit forecasts for the South Korean company, warning its flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, may not be proving as serious a contender to Apple's iPhone 5 as originally predicted.
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Samsung's ATIV Book 9 Plus: 3200 x 1800 Display in an Ultrabook
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 20, 2013 7:46 PM EST
Earlier tonight Samsung introduced a convertible featuring a 13.3-inch 3200 x 1800 display that runs both Windows 8 and Android. If the convertible form factor is a little too weird for you, Samsung also introduced an Ultrabook with the very same display.
Like many of the Ultrabooks announced in Taipei, the ATIV Book 9 Plus is a marriage of MacBook Air and rMBP. You get a form factor that's very similar to the 13-inch MBA, but with a display that's clearly aimed at the more expensive rMBP. Where the ATIV Book 9 Plus falls in pricing will be very interesting to see.
Internally, there's a familiar refrain: Core i5-4200U (Haswell ULT), DDR3L and an SSD. Like the ATIV Q, the SSD in this case is one of Samsung's own - the MZNTD128HAGM, a 6Gbps SATA M.2 drive. The machine ships with an integrated 55Wh battery and weighs 1.39 kg. Samsung claims up to 12 hours of battery life.
The notebook looked good in person. I'm a fan of the hidden SD card reader with spring loaded door. Just like we saw with the ATIV Q, the ATIV Book 9 Plus was running Windows 8 but I fully expect that it's meant for Windows 8.1's improved handling of high DPI displays.
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