• ASUS Padfone - A phone that can be docked with a tablet and S4 processor A.K.A Best phone 2012
    80 replies, posted
I would buy that in a heartbeat if I already didn't have a laptop and soon tablet.
I've been needing a new everything, I'm going to be keeping a close eye on this.
Hey guys, this article might interest you. [quote=intomobile]If you’re like me, you probably think the Asus Padfone is one of the best devices ever made. Not all of us need a tablet all the time (quite the contrary), and Asus’ baby offers a great way to have both a smartphone and tablet in a single device. The problem, however, is that at least initially the Padfone will be an expensive toy. We’ve just learned just how expensive it is, with British electronics retailer FlagshipFones asking 583.32 GBP for the unlocked device (or 696.83 EUR / $914.35). Add VAT (tax) to the equation and the price goes up to whopping 699.98 GBP. That’s outrageous, though we’re sure the price will go down and this is just another way to get more money from eager early adopters turned suckers. Now the idea should be that one device which combines functionalities of both smartphone and tablet should cost less than those two devices bought separately. This time, however, that’s not the case. That 700 GBP can easily get you a decent tablet and a dual-core smartphone. The price will undoubtedly go down, but if you still want to be among the first ones to get the Padfone, proceed to this page at FlagshipFones and take it from there. I suggest waiting, but then again – it’s your money. ;) [Via: somobile][/quote] [url]http://www.intomobile.com/2012/03/10/uk-asus-padfone-available-preorder-whopping-700-gbp/[/url]
I'm in love with this concept. Now just to wait and see some reviews and hands-on videos. Also, if I got this correctly: the tablet part has no actual memory whatsoever and just serves as a screen, right? So there's no duplicate info or syncing between the two devices?
[QUOTE=Drag0nSnak3;35090822]I'm in love with this concept. Now just to wait and see some reviews and hands-on videos. Also, if I got this correctly: the tablet part has no actual memory whatsoever and just serves as a screen, right? So there's no duplicate info or syncing between the two devices?[/QUOTE] Yeah, it's just a HDMI screen (AFAIK it uses the phone's mini-HDMI port), digitizer/touch panel and battery.
I was thinking. Is the tablet-phone fragmentation present in ICS or not? Meaning, are there tablet-specific apps? If this is true, this might lead to complications.
One of the main goals of ICS is to have one OS where everything scales perfectly between phone and tablet [editline]11th March 2012[/editline] So if apps are designed properly, there should be no complications
That's good. ICS basically made this thing possible, it seems.
Some counterpoints to this device- -This is a first generation device, it might not be worth buying it fresh out the gate and the kinks could be worked out by next generation. -Depending on price and how you intend to use it, it might be more eficient to buy a netbook or tablet and a good quality phone. -If you lose your phone, you're SOL. -Charging batteries could be a pain as each part has its own battery. -In America, this device could fuck with the carriers' despotic world views. Look at the [url=http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile+Phone+Accessories/Docking-Stations/Atrix-Laptop-Dock-US-EN]Lapdock for the Atrix.[/url] This is a very similar idea to this, where the phone itself does all the computing and sending and receiving, and the Lapdock is just an interface. Yet, at least for AT&T, they make you spend extra money on a data plan when it's plugged into the Lapdock even though there's no technical reason to do so. So now you have two data plans that are very expensive; one for phone mode and one for laptop mode. [editline]12th March 2012[/editline] Oh, and no 4G/LTE. That depends on how you look at it though because at least for me 4G is way too fucking expensive and 3G does the job well enough.
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35107114]Some counterpoints to this device- -This is a first generation device, it might not be worth buying it fresh out the gate and the kinks could be worked out by next generation. -Depending on price and how you intend to use it, it might be more eficient to buy a netbook or tablet and a good quality phone. -If you lose your phone, you're SOL. [/QUOTE] Very valid points, especially about the first generation device and losing your phone. [QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35107114] -Charging batteries could be a pain as each part has its own battery. [/QUOTE] Although this might be complicated, I suppose the additional tablet/keyboard batteries should be more than enough to get you through the day and you could recharge them all at night. [B]Does each part come with it's own charger though?[/B] [B]edit:[/B] It would be pretty cool if all of these devices came with a wireless recharging "mat". Just unfold it somewhere, place all 3 devices on it and voila, charging. Wireless recharging technology is already here for quite a while, but nobody wants to use it :( [QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35107114] -In America, this device could fuck with the carriers' despotic world views. [/QUOTE] Sadly, a retarded-provider-ideas proof device is still in the works. Release Date: never.
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35107114]-Charging batteries could be a pain as each part has its own battery.[/QUOTE] If it's anything like the Transformer it'll always charge the most important part first and each will feed the other when connected. So when everything's connected it'll be phone first, then the tablet and then the keyboard. And you can charge all three with a single charger if they're all connected.
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35107114]Some counterpoints to this device- -This is a first generation device, it might not be worth buying it fresh out the gate and the kinks could be worked out by next generation. -Depending on price and how you intend to use it, it might be more eficient to buy a netbook or tablet and a good quality phone. -If you lose your phone, you're SOL. -Charging batteries could be a pain as each part has its own battery. -In America, this device could fuck with the carriers' despotic world views. Look at the [url=http://www.motorola.com/Consumers/US-EN/Consumer-Product-and-Services/Mobile+Phone+Accessories/Docking-Stations/Atrix-Laptop-Dock-US-EN]Lapdock for the Atrix.[/url] This is a very similar idea to this, where the phone itself does all the computing and sending and receiving, and the Lapdock is just an interface. Yet, at least for AT&T, they make you spend extra money on a data plan when it's plugged into the Lapdock even though there's no technical reason to do so. So now you have two data plans that are very expensive; one for phone mode and one for laptop mode. [editline]12th March 2012[/editline] Oh, and no 4G/LTE. That depends on how you look at it though because at least for me 4G is way too fucking expensive and 3G does the job well enough.[/QUOTE] Gotta agree with you there on most parts. Which is why I'd just wait and see how it goes with the first generation(s), until it either turns out to be a big hit or total trash.
[QUOTE=kukiric;35107771]If it's anything like the Transformer it'll always charge the most important part first and each will feed the other when connected. So when everything's connected it'll be phone first, then the tablet and then the keyboard. And you can charge all three with a single charger if they're all connected.[/QUOTE] It'll be weird when you want to use one part but not the others. Like while I'm in bed I might not want to have my laptop next to me, under my pillow. [editline]12th March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Van-man;35108175]Gotta agree with you there on most parts. Which is why I'd just wait and see how it goes with the first generation(s), until it either turns out to be a big hit or total trash.[/QUOTE] If the reviews are good and the price is good I'll probably pick this up.
Imagine having this system, but when you plugged it into the keyboard dock, it changed to [url=http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android]this[/url].
Literally just saw this, i bought myself a Transformer prime a couples of hours ago... Why does this always happen to me!!!
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrh_EwFaZ7I[/media] New video.
[QUOTE=Mr.T;35222521][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrh_EwFaZ7I[/media] New video.[/QUOTE] ...In a world where everyone has the same tablet? :v:
Call me when it has LTE. Sorry, but 3G isn't enough these days.
[QUOTE=Woovie;35242924]Call me when it has LTE. Sorry, but 3G isn't enough these days.[/QUOTE] I don't really care either way because when I'm mobile I'm only ever doing light web browsing or downloading text files that are in the kilobytes. I guess what I'm trying to say that I'm probably not going to pay for 10mbps when I'm not even fully using 1 mbps. For me, at least.
I really hope this comes to Canada. I'd really like this; it seems really useful for many scenarios.
I have a Droid 3 (which is quickly being out-dated), no tablet, and no laptop. I'm fucking sold. [editline]23rd March 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=Woovie;35242924]Call me when it has LTE. Sorry, but 3G isn't enough these days.[/QUOTE] I'm fine with 3G. When your wifi connection is 500 kbs and you have a 700 mb daily limit (Living in butt-fuck nowhere has disadvantages), 3G is a fucking gift from god.
[QUOTE=soccerskyman;35262710] I'm fine with 3G. When your wifi connection is 500 kbs and you have a 700 mb daily limit (Living in butt-fuck nowhere has disadvantages), 3G is a fucking gift from god.[/QUOTE] Yeah, but if you're a busy businessman you're probably going to want to shell out the $100 a month or so for decent 4G because your job depends on it.
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35269350]Yeah, but if you're a busy businessman you're probably going to want to shell out the $100 a month or so for decent 4G because your job depends on it.[/QUOTE]I feel lucky for living in Sweden because the maxed out 4G here costs ~40$ per month.
[QUOTE=dije;35273706]I feel lucky for living in Sweden because the maxed out 4G here costs ~40$ per month.[/QUOTE] Yeah, in America shit is ridiculous. Over here bare-bones throttled 4G is like $40 a month. [editline]24th March 2012[/editline] Hell, I'm stuck with $15 a month for a 150 MB 3G plan.
I'm on AT&T and the only reason why I am not fed up with 15$/200mb is because I am on WiFi everywhere. My uni/house. When I am on the road/out and about I have data only pushed occasionally and I only end up using around 150-180mb of 3g. I would need to get a plan that would be around 5-7gb a month if I had no wifi.
I just realized: With it being transitioning between phone and tablet all the time, would the homescreens look funky? What looks good on a phone might not look good on a tablet and vice versa.
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35294039]I just realized: With it being transitioning between phone and tablet all the time, would the homescreens look funky? What looks good on a phone might not look good on a tablet and vice versa.[/QUOTE] They probably use a launcher that gives you the option to customize each homescreen (phone vs tablet) separately.
[QUOTE=Van-man;35294745]They probably use a launcher that gives you the option to customize each homescreen (phone vs tablet) separately.[/QUOTE] What if their launcher sucks, and I want to use GoLauncher or something?
[QUOTE=SGTNAPALM;35245339]I don't really care either way because when I'm mobile I'm only ever doing light web browsing or downloading text files that are in the kilobytes. I guess what I'm trying to say that I'm probably not going to pay for 10mbps when I'm not even fully using 1 mbps. For me, at least.[/QUOTE] I work out of town 2 weeks to 3 months at a time. 4G is a necessity if I am in a hotel/motel without WiFi.
Yeah, I mentioned that in a post later. Some people have to work and move around a lot. Especially considering certain hotels charge you ridiculous amounts of money for WiFi. Then 4G would be a reasonable investment.
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