Lenovo releases Android Yoga tablets
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The 8- and 10-inch tablets can be used in three modes and boast 18-hour battery life.
Amid much fanfare, Lenovo announced that it was getting into the Android tablet market with a series of devices that compliment their Yoga line of convertible laptops. The new Yoga tablets will come with either 8- or 10-inch screens.
The Yoga tablets feature three unique modes -- hold, tilt and stand -- that adapt to the way people use it. Lenovo also says the Yoga can deliver up to 18 hours of battery life.
With its cylindrical handle, hold mode is designed to fit an individual’s hand and offers more control over the device than other tablets that require two hands. Hold mode makes reading, checking social media and browsing the Web easy and parallels how people hold magazines when reading.
To convert the Yoga into stand mode, users can rotate the side cylinder 90 degrees so that the tablet stand deploys. Users can adjust the viewing angle from 110 degrees to 135 degrees. Users can also lay the Yoga Tablet down in tilt mode to type directly on the tablet, and have a better viewing angle. Its auto-detection software can automatically bring up frequently used apps in hold and stand modes.
The Yoga’s cylindrical handle holds dual batteries of the type typically found in laptops. The tablet can even charge other devices such as smartphones via its USB on the-go port.
The 10-inch and 8-inch models run on MT8125 Quad Core processors with 16 GB capacity and run the Android 4.2 operating system. Also equipped with Dolby audio, Yoga Tablet’s front-facing speakers create a powerful surround sound experience through the device speakers and with headphones.
The 10-inch model weighs 1.34 pounds and the 8-inch model weighs 0.88 pounds. They feature high-definition 1,280 by 800 resolution displays, a 5 megapixel auto focus rear camera, an additional front camera and a micro SD expansion slot, allowing up to 64 GB of total storage. The Yogas also have a WiFi and a micro USB connection, plus Dolby DS1 for rich audio. Lenovo offers an optional Bluetooth keyboard for the 10-inch model that functions as a cover and wakes up the tablet when it’s removed or puts the tablet to sleep when it’s attached. Lenovo offers a portfolio of services for the Yoga Tablet including warranty extensions, upgrades and premium technical support.
The 8-inch model, starting at $269, is available at Best Buy stores and Lenovo while the 10-inch model, which starts at $319, will be available via major retailers. The Lenovo Yoga 10 Bluetooth Keyboard Cover also is available for $69.