The ToyBox

Ricardo Bilton & Gloria Sin

Asus reveals next-gen quad core Transformer

By | October 20, 2011, 6:11am PDT

Summary: Asus’ quad core Transformer makes an appearance at All Things Digital Asia in Hong Kong, gets primed for roll-out this November.

Asus reveals quad core Transformer. Image from WSJ's All Things Digital

Asus reveals quad core Transformer. Image from WSJ

Of all the new gadget sightings happening at All Things Digital Asia in Hong Kong, the one that I’m most excited about is the next-gen Asus Eee Pad Transformer, also known as the Transformer Prime according to CNET Asia’s Crave blog.

I had an inkling a new version of the popular Android tablet must be on its way when retailers like Newegg were bundling it with the keyboard dock just a couple of weeks ago. Given the details that All Things Digital is reporting on the new Transformer though, I think I’ll get over the current-gen pretty soon.

This new 10-inch Transformer will be powered by a Nvidia Kal-El quad core processor that is energy efficient enough to last 14.5 hours on battery. Not only is it promising amazing performance, the slate also comes with USB and mini-HDMI ports so it should be as functional as the current Transformer.

Clearly, the new Transformer shares the same high-end good looks as the recently launched Zenbooks (Ultrabooks UX21 and UX31). At just 8.3-millimeters thin, it no longer has the textured back of its predecessor, which could make this tablet more prone to fingerprints and scratches but even more portable to travel with.

Although Asus Chairman Jonney Shih did not reveal many other details about this next-gen Transformer this morning (will it run Android Ice Cream Sandwich, for example), he is expected to formally unveil the device on November 9. Who knows, maybe it will make it to retailers in time for this holiday, after all.

[Source: All Things Digital, CNET Asia's Crave Blog]

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Gloria Sin is a freelance journalist based in New York City.

Disclosure

Gloria Sin

I have no stocks or investments in any companies or interests which may lead to a conflict of interest in my coverage.

Biography

Gloria Sin

Gloria Sin is a New York-based freelance journalist who writes about the tech toys that you can't live without for ZDNet. She has little patience for poorly designed user experiences, and is not afraid of opening the guts of her own machines for repair or hacking her gadgets for new uses.

She has written for FastCompany.com, Popular Science, Olympic News Service; she currently covers the startup scene in the Tri-State area for NYConvergence.com.

Prior to ZDNet, Gloria was the online editor for Dance International, and dabbled in web design and social media consulting. When she is offline, you will find her at an ice rink living out her figure skating dreams. Follow her on Twitter.

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dwdrejx 54 cnw
cmakrekwe4501-24379063626801738575456287524799 23rd Nov
ehqyvn,ovgfydbw68, mwllj.
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Nothing other than iPad is selling. The Asus transformer is an epic fail in the market. People do not want tablets. They want iPads.

It is a sick market. We all lose.
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Activations, really?
dmeguy Updated - 20th Oct
@toddybottom Considering that most tablets sales are for WIFI only devices, isn't that an odd matrix to use to judge? I agree that the Ipad is killing it's competition but, I have a Transformer and absolutely love it. I can't wait to get my hands on the new version. My mouth is watering for some Ice Cream Sandwich!
@dmeguy Oh cmon you guy's, Toddybottom is nothing more than a paid MS shill, who comes in all the time when Apple is doing something positive and posts something negative. This guy should be banned from all blogs....
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Where did you get that number from?
0 Votes
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@toddybottom
Let's play a little game. I'm going to give you two sentences and you tell me if you can tell me the difference between the two.

" report covering activations in enterprise during the third quarter of 2011:

iOS tablets represent over 96 percent of total tablet activations"
From the article

"96% of all tablet activations were iPads" your statement
@toddybottom
What's next? You are going to find us an article stating 100% of all quad core tablets were android. Then repeat that here, but conveniently ignore that the article was only referring to quad core tablets.
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When you have stats that say enterprise adoption of iPad is at 96%, that nearly 100% of all tablet browsing is done on the iPad, that nearly 100% of all apps sold are for the iPad, stupid people like anono will claim that this is because Apple is very strong in the enterprise but much weaker in the consumer market, that there are millions of Android tablets out there that are never used to surf the web, and that Android users never buy apps.

They won't stop to think that maybe it is because nothing but the iPad is selling. They are too stupid. It is a sick market. We all lose.
  • Flagged
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So... 96% of all tablets or of enterprise tablets?
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You are right
toddybottom 20th Oct
@Michael Alan Goff
"So... 96% of all tablets or of enterprise tablets?"

I bet that Apple's share of the consumer tablet market is much lower because Apple always gets far more enterprise marketshare than it does consumer marketshare.

Oh wait. They don't.

It is a sick market. We all lose. Especially enterprises who clearly have no choice in tablets.
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So you really don't have a response to what I was saying, and no way of saying that the marketshare of the iPad is 96%. You're just whining to whine.

I, on the other hand, have this.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/research-40-million-ipads-to-ship-in-2011-61-global-tablet-share/54068
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@Michael Alan Goff
I know you didn't just link to article that predicted massive amounts of Android tablet shipments for next year. That doesn't prove a thing other than how stupid you are. Ironically enough, at the bottom of your link, I found this one:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/apples-ipad-represents-90-percent-of-all-tablets-shipped-amazon-owns-e-readers/43681

Now keep in mind that iPad represented 90% of all tablets SHIPPED. Not sold. SHIPPED. And only iPad sells out. Android tablets sit on the shelf, unsold. Shipped does not equal sold. Only stupid people believe those are the same things.

All the actual usage based statistics show that Apple has nearly 100% of the "tablet in the hands of the end user" marketshare. Please don't make me laugh with your "estimates are that next year Android will ship 25 million tablets" link. You just make yourself look stupid.
@toddybottom The iPad IS a tablet :-/
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@toddybottom

You stated, "People do not want tablets. They want iPads."

The iPad is a tablet.
@toddybottom

You must work on Wall Street. That's Wall Street talk. When people only pay attention to market share and marketing rather than profits, that's the kind of thinking that prompted the Occupy Wall Street movement. If the transformer was a failure, Asus wouldn't be producing a second. Crap, with your reasoning, Android phones wouldn't have survived 2009.
Love the Transformer, does everything i need it to do for both work and home. Really hoping it's here for Christmas, so's my son as he gets my current one lol
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@toddybottom

Considering that the Asus Transformer and many Android tablets (as well as some iPad and iPad 2) are Wi-fi device, the number of "activations" as a measuring stick is inappropriate.

An enterprise survey only reflects enterprise usage, not necessarily representative of the general tablet market.


Maybe you should read the following articles? I'm confident that should make you rethink your claim that the Transformer is an "Epic fail"

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/asus-eee-pad-transformer-goes-on-sale-in-us-immediately-sells-o/


http://www.pdfdevices.com/asus-eee-pad-transformer-is-a-winner-for-asus/

http://techie-buzz.com/gadgets-news/asus-eee-pad-transformer-sales.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/235925/asus_transformer_tablet_surprising_second_best_in_sales_after_apple_ipad.html

http://goodereader.com/blog/tablet-slates/asus-ships-400000-transformers-sequel-in-the-works/
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@toddybottom

No one is disputing the iPad as the most dominant tablet device. The problem is you're quoting statistics from just a partial segment of the market (devices that actually require activations, devices used in the enterprise) and act as if they hold true for the entire tablet market.

I for once instance, do not believe the 96% number would hold true for enterprise + consumer, and have posted a number of links to dispute your notion that the Transformer is an "Epic fail".

It's one thing to be supportive of your favorite OS, another thing to resort to inaccurate statistics and personal attacks to get to your point.
Dadgum ASUS... every time they release a new tablet i say to myself: "that's gonna be my next tablet!"

This one looks like it solves the one problem with the original Transformer (too thick).

I have a feeling I'm giong to want, Want, WANT this one.

The biggest problem right now is a lack of software. I want an office suite that doesn't feel like it was coded for a 10 year old Windows Mobile 6.1 phone.
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Polaris office
symbolset 21st Oct
@dsf3g
The original TF came with this. It is pretty good.
0 Votes
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Polaris Office
rhonin 21st Oct
@dsf3g
Have it on my Transformer and it covers GDocs, OO and MS better than any other I have found.
Just need something for Vision and I'll be set.
Dadgum ASUS... every time they release a new tablet i say to myself: "that's gonna be my next tablet!"

This one looks like it solves the one problem with the original Transformer (too thick).

I have a feeling I'm giong to want, Want, WANT this one.

The biggest problem right now is a lack of software. I want an office suite that doesn't feel like it was coded for a 10 year old Windows Mobile 6.1 phone..
0 Votes
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Yup.
rhonin 21st Oct
@dsf3g
The only complaint I have with mine is the tapered back.
0 Votes
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dwdrejx 54 cnw
cmakrekwe4501-24379063626801738575456287524799 23rd Nov
ehqyvn,ovgfydbw68, mwllj.

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