Asus Transformer Prime tablet officially detailed in all its quad-core glory
The first quad-core Android tablet - the ASUS Transformer Prime - got officially announced today, just as promised. A flurry of details came with the announcement, and it seems that Android fans should be very excited about what Asus and NVIDIA have managed to achieve.
First off, some specs, then some dance in the streets - the Transformer Prime sports a 10" Super IPS+ display with 1280x800 resolution and Gorilla Glass protection, NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8 megapixel rear camera with 1080p HD recording plus a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, SonicMaster audio, microSD slot and HDMI port, and quoted 12 hours of battery life, which turned out to be video playback time. Besides the Asus apps like WebStorage, MyNet, MyCloud, File Manage that will be carried over from the first Transformer, the Prime will have Polaris Office and SuperNote preinstalled.
The keyboard dock will cost $149 and add an additional 6 hours of battery life plus USB 2.0 port and an SD card slot. The Transformer Prime will initially have Android 3.2, but next month Asus will spill more about its plans for an ICS update.
Now for some more in-depth details - the Super IPS+ display offers viewing angles up to 178 degrees, and the "Super IPS" mode can crank up the brightness to 600 nits, which helps in outside visibility, compared to the roughly 400 nits of the IPS LCD on the original Transformer tablet. Asus also claims that screen response time is now almost instant, compared to the first Transformer, and touch performance should thus be even smoother.
Speakers are larger now, and the SonicMaster tech should offer "crisp and acoustically accurate audio". The 8MP camera has f/2.4 aperture and back-side illuminated sensor for better low light capabilities. The Transformer Prime is just 0.33" (8.38mm) thin, weighs 1.29 pounds, and the anodized aluminum frame will be offered in grey and purple, as well as gold and silver finishes.
The new Asus tablet will cost $499 for the 32GB version, and $599.99 for the 64GB version, which sounds about right, considering the specs. Asus also said that it is geared more towards premium users, while the first Eee Pad Transformer will keep being sold for the joy of mainstream users, as it might get its price slashed.
via Androinica
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: