Expert review for iPad Air

The Apple Inc. has not reinvented the wheel with the iPad Air but the thinner device, priced higher than many of its competitors. A major improvement on a successful product, the reviewers said.

Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Walt Mossberg called the iPad Air the best tablet he has ever reviewed.

"That isn't just because of its slimmer, lighter design, but because Apple boasts 475,000 apps optimized for tablet use - far more than any other tablet platform," according to Mossberg.

The new full-sized iPad goes on sale from Friday and will be priced starting $499. The New York Times writer Damon Darlin said that the iPad Air is lighter than its predecessors, adding that the gadget is a delight to use.

Reviewer David Pogue, who recently left the New York Times to start a new consumer-tech website at Yahoo, said the iPad Air is "a fantastic leap into the future if you're upgrading from an original iPad, or if you've never owned a tablet before."However, all three reviewers highlighted that the iPad Air is pricier than many of its competitors.

"Do you need to plunk down $500 or more for an Air if you already have an earlier version of the iPad?," Darlin asked, calling the improvements on the new device "incremental, not revolutionary." Amazon.com said that the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX costs $379, Microsoft's Surface 2 starts from $449, while Samsung's Galaxy Tab 3 10.1-inch tablet has a suggested retail price of $400.

Pogue said that given the price, an iPad probably does not need replacing every year or even every other year. Mossberg concluded: "Bottom line: If you can afford it, the new iPad Air is the tablet I recommend, hands down."

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Posted in Apple, iPad Air, iPad air price, iPad review, Microsoft, Samsung, Tablets

Nokia Lumia 2020 to be release next year

Microsoft's Nokia is probably busy pushing out its recently announced Lumia 2520 tablet globally. However, a new report suggests that the Finnish manufacturer might unveil its next tablet, the alleged Lumia 2020, as early as Q1 next year.

A report by Digitimes citing sources familiar with the matter, Nokia has plans to expand its tablet portfolio by launching a new tablet, the Lumia 2020, and that the company would be targeting the mid-range tablet segment with it, while it targets the high-end with the Lumia 2520.

Nokia announced its first Windows RT tablet, the Lumia 2520, at Nokia World in October. The Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet runs Windows RT 8.1 and comes with a 10.1-inch full-HD IPS LCD display that boasts of enhanced sunlight legibility and a Corning Gorilla Glass 2 screen.

Earlier reports had suggested that Nokia might launch the rumoured Lumia 2020 at MWC 2014alongside the Lumia 1820 Windows Phone.

Prolific tipster has already revealed that Nokia has codenamed Illusionist its second Windows RT tablet sporting an 8-inch tablet.The Nokia Lumia 2020 aka Illusionist is thought to sport a similar design to the Lumia 2520 tablet, and that it would come with a lower Lumia model number to differentiate it from the larger 10.1-inch sibling. Further, the Nokia Lumia 2020 is said to be powered by a Qualcomm processor, would run Windows RT 8.1, just like the Lumia 2520 tablet and in addition would come with stylus support.

Earlier speculation had pointed to a Lumia 2320 name for the more affordable Illusionist tablet, similar to naming scheme of the two announced phablets from the company, the Lumia 1320 and Lumia 1520.

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Posted in Microsoft, Nokia, Nokia 8inch tablet, Nokia Illuisionist, Nokia Tablet, Tablets, Windows Rt