Best Buy® Offers $299 HTC Flyer Tablet Starting Oct. 1

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 30, 2011 - Best Buy (NYSE: BBY), a leading retailer of consumer technology products, today announced it is reducing the price of the HTC Flyer from $499.99 to $299.99 starting Saturday, Oct. 1. Customers can take advantage of this permanent lower price online at BestBuy.com and at all Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile standalone stores nationwide.

The HTC Flyer is a fast, portable, light-weight tablet that integrates the immersive and highly intuitive HTC Sense(TM) experience and enables content including videos, music, games and more to be easily accessed and enjoyed. The 7-inch (measured diagonally) tablet operates on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and comes loaded with 16GB of memory.

Medical students can take notes during class using a tablet if they...

Medical students can take notes using a tablet if they use a tablet that accepts pen-based input. Traditionally, Windows tablet PC used Wacom technology and Penabled digitizer pens that allowed you to draw and write directly on the screen of your tablet. Your "inking" could also get converted into text if your handwriting was somewhat legible.

Today, we live in an era of capacitive touch-based computing and many people have said "bye bye digitizer pen (or stylus if you prefer)." Those of us who lived in the era of traditional tablet PCs often miss our pens and we feel drawn to tablets that have pen-input technology.

Today, we're left with a few options if you want a touch-based tablet that also allows you to take notes using a pen. N-trig has filled the void with its DuoSense digitizer that lets you switch from capacitive touch to pen-based input. If you want the best of both worlds, you can choose between tablets like the Lenovo ThinkPad (running Android), the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint (running Android), or the HTC Flyer (running Android).

The ideal slate tablet for a doctor or medical student: accounting for the white coat pocket

There's no doubt that the Apple iPad is a very popular slate tablet among medical professionals. Close behind, the wide variety of Android-powered slates are gaining momentum quickly. Part of the reason is that the Android tablets come in different sizes (7" and 10") whereas the iPad only comes as a 10" slate. That's fine if you want a large device, but if you're looking for something will easily slip into the pocket of your white coat, then a 7" tablet could be a better fit for your needs.

I've had the pleasure to test both the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 (not to be confused with the 10" model called the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1). Samsung also has a model called the Galaxy Tab 8.9 (I'm not sure why they're making so many different models). The bottom line is that these 7" tablets will fit very easily in your white coat pocket.

So, for busy medical students and physicians who are looking for a slate that is highly portable, a 7" tablet powered by Android could be a good way to go. Personally, I like having both an Android device (my smartphone) and an iOS device like the iPad. This lets me test a variety of apps on either OS. I admit that I don't use my iPad as often as I once did, but that's because I sit in front of a computer all day.

You'll probably find me using a 7" slate tablet pretty soon. I really like the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint, so I may just end up getting one to supplement my HTC ThunderBolt 4G smartphone. Then again, Samsung and LG have some new slate tablets that will be arriving this fall, so maybe I'll wait.

Are you looking for a portable tablet that you can easily carry in your white coat pocket? Try taking your coat to a Sprint store and see how these 7" devices feel. Now, if Apple came out with a 7" device, then we may have to re-evaluate this whole issue.

Thoughts from a hospital CMIO about the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint

The other day, I had a chance to show off the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint. I'm testing this small little slate tablet and a hospital CMIO (Chief Medical Information Officer) asked me, "what's that?" Here's the rest of the conversation (summarized):

Me: This is the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint. I'm testing this for a few weeks. It's a 7" slate tablet running the Android OS.

CMIO: Can I take a look at it?

Me: Sure, but don't drop it.

CMIO: Wow, this is great! It's exactly what I've been looking for. This will fit in my white coat pocket and will allow me to get online through Wi-Fi or 3G/4G. I'm going to get one.

Me: How do you think you'll use this in the hospital?

CMIO: I'll use Citrix Receiver to access our hospital computers. Plus, I'll have access to my email, my calendar, and the web so that I can remain productive when I'm on-the-go. I'm constantly on my feet, so it would be great to have a single mobile device that will allow me to stay on top of all my tasks. Plus, I can scribble notes on the screen by using the digital pen.

The HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint is a nice, ultra-portable slate tablet that will easily fit into a white coat pocket. In many ways, it's the ideal size for medical professionals who want something that's smaller than an iPad. I know that iPads are extremely popular among physicians and medical students, but more and more health care professionals are finding that a slightly smaller device is much more usable in the hospital environment (less likely to get left behind and lost).

The HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint is also unique in that it you can get a digital pen powered by the HTC Scribe Technology. This means that you can draw/write right on the screen if you have the right pen. Here's how HTC describes it:

HTC Scribe Technology enabling enhanced voice-synchronized note taking with the HTC Scribe digital pen using Timemark to capture the audio of a meeting at the same time as written notes

Thinking about a new tablet? You can read about my initial impressions of the HTC EVO View 4G here. I'll sure miss this device when I send it back to Sprint. I may need to get one myself.

How many of these tablets can you identify?

Here's a photo that includes all the tablet computers that I had in my office last week. How many can you recognize?

Let's start with the left column:

• Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC (Windows)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 (Android)
• HTC EVO View 4G (Android )
• HP Slate 500 (Windows)

Right column:

• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Android)
• Apple iPad (iOS)
• HP TouchPad (webOS)

Did you get all those? I only own 3 of these devices. I'm currently testing all the others. Which 3 do I own?

My initial impressions using the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint

I've been testing the HTC EVO View 4G from Sprint for several days now. This is a 7" Android slate tablet that also has the ability to accept input using the HTC Scribe pen. This is not your Wacom-based active digitizer. Rather, the HTC Scribe Digital Pen uses the same type of technology found on devices like the HP Slate 500 (N-trig DuoSense). So, the pen uses a AAAA battery and has functional buttons so that you can draw, erase, etc. This is a great little tablet for health care professionals who are accustomed to pen-based input.

The HTC EVO View 4G fits nicely in a white coat pocket. I was showing this to a hospital CMIO who said, "I'm going to get one." Although the Apple iPad is a very nice device, it really doesn't fit into a standard white coat pocket. The 7" HTC EVO View 4G fits very easily. Plus, the Android OS is familiar to anyone who already has an Android smartphone.

My initial impressions:

• Very nice tablet running Android 
• Small and light: fits easily into a white coat pocket
• The pen-based input works well (HTC Scribe Technology), but it is not as smooth and accurate as Wacom-based tablets
• Great to have cameras on the front and back
• 4G data speeds (WiMAX) speeds from Sprint are excellent

I'll be posting additional thoughts as I spend more time with this device. 

I'm reviewing the Sprint HTC EVO View 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tabs (7.0 and 10.1)

Thanks to my media contact at Sprint, I now have the opportunity to review these 3 Sprint tablets over the next few weeks:

• HTC EVO View 4G (with the HTC Scribe™ digital pen)
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Stay tuned as I open the boxes and review these 3 tablets running Google Android. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is running Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) while the others are running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). My HTC ThunderBolt smartphone is still running Android 2.2 (Froyo), so that's going to be my baseline comparison.

HTC Flyer: An Android tablet with a "Magic Pen"

The HTC Flyer is an Android slate tablet that includes a "magic pen" that will allow you to write, draw, and "ink" more accurately than most other slate tablets (with the exception of slate tablet PCs running Windows 7).

With these smaller tablets that include both a capacitive touch screen an some sort of active digitizer, we're seeing more devices using the DuoSense Digitizer Solution from N-trig. My HP Slate 500 uses an N-trig pen and the new Fujitsu Q550 also uses an N-trig pen. The Motion Computing CL900 also uses the same type of pen. Why the movement away from Wacom?

Before you go out and purchase an HTC Flyer, check to see if the device comes with a "magic pen." Otherwise, you may be spending $30 or more to purchase a separate pen.

The HTC Flyer is a portable 7-inch tablet with a magic pen that can do more for you than you can imagine. From creating masterpieces with a stroke of a paintbrush, to taking multimedia notes or even signing digital documents, HTC Flyer puts you in control of any situation. With streaming movies at a touch of your finger, HTC Flyer turns any moment into something special.

HTC Flyer tablet

If you're looking for a slate tablet that runs Android, consider the HTC Flyer tablet. Here's what you can expect from this device:

7 inch (1024 x 768) touchscreen display, 1.5GHz processor, 16GB internal storage, microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear facing camera with auto-focus, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and a 4000 mAh battery.

Press release:

Best Buy® and HTC Announce Exclusive Launch of the Wi-Fi HTC Flyer Tablet at CTIA Wireless 2011

Wi-Fi HTC Flyer slated to launch this spring

ORLANDO, Fla., March 22, 2011 – Best Buy and HTC today announced the exclusive launch of the highly-anticipated Wi-Fi only version of the HTC Flyer™ tablet. All Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile standalone stores, as well as BestBuy.com, will have the tablet when it launches this spring.

HTC Flyer (slate tablet running Android)

HTC has joined the slate tablet revolution with the HTC Flyer. This Android slate will feature: HTC Sense UI, HTC Watch video service, HTC Scribe Technology and OnLive cloud gaming. With a 7" screen, it will resemble the Samsung Galaxy Tab but it will feature a stylus pen. Right! This may be the first capacitive-only slate tablet that includes a stylus pen. HTC has been promoting its HTC Scribe technology for pen-based computing on a capacitive screen.

Who will have the first 4G slate tablet?

Some are speculating that the Samsung Galaxy Tab will be on Sprint as a 4G slate tablet. Wouldn't that be nice? I'd actually line up for that one.

Will Apple be the first to come out with a 4G slate tablet? They weren't the first 4G smartphone. HTC was with the Evo 4G on Sprint. Now, Samsung has released the Epic 4G on Sprint. If history repeats itself, then either HTC or Samsung will be the first company to release a 4G slate. Given all the buzz around the Galaxy Tab, I'm guessing that Samsung will emerge as the winner in the 4G slate tablet market. Of course, it won't be long before we see others following with 4G devices.

Android Pad

Now that Apple has the iPad, when will Google release an Android Pad? Such a device would probably be made by HTC (who currently makes the Google Nexus One smartphone). Actually, Archos has a little 5-inch tablet that runs Android and it's called the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet. They should have simply called it the Android Pad. Several other companies are currently working on Internet tablets that run Android, but those devices haven't been getting much press here in the U.S.

I don't doubt that the iPad will be very popular here. I'm sure as Android gains momentum in the smartphone space, the Android Pad will eventually emerge as direct competition against the iPad.

Rumors about the Google Tablet

Now that Apple has officially released its iPad, the rumors surrounding the first generation Apple tablet will get replaced by new rumors regarding the Google tablet. It appears that HTC is working with Google to create a tablet that will likely run Chrome OS (or maybe it will dual-boot into Android as well). In any case, I suspect that we'll see a real winner since HTC has a long history of making excellent smartphones and other mobile devices. The current Google Nexus One Android smartphone is made by HTC and branded as a Google smartphone. How will the Google tablet compare to the iPad?

I was tempted to buy a netbook today

I saw what appeared to be a killer deal today: A GPS-equipped Dell netbook that includes turn-by-turn navigation features for $499. (I passed on the TV tuner because I never have time to watch television)

Now, let's step back for a minute. How do you use a netbook in your car? Who needs a netbook when you can simply buy a standalone GPS navigator like a TomTom, Garmin, or Magellan for less than $499?

But then again, who needs a standalone GPS unit when you can simply get a GPS-enabled smartphone and install turn-by-turn navigation software made by TomTom, Garmin, and several other major companies?

Fortunately, I did not purchase this netbook. I have enough computers (including some that have built-in GPS functionality) and I really don't need another gadget right now. My HTC Touch Pro2 works just fine as a GPS navigator. My OQO model 02 and my Samsung Q1 Ultra (Ultra-Mobile PC or UMPC) are great gadgets that are capable of GPS navigation if I pair a Bluetooth GPS. My Lenovo Thinkpad X200 tablet PC has a built-in GPS because of the built-in WWAN radio.

So why was I tempted to buy this Dell netbook? Because you simply don't see too many netbooks advertised as a GPS navigator with turn-by-turn navigation software. As netbooks continue to evolve, perhaps a built-in GPS will become a standard feature. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and fairly standard features. Built-in WWAN is getting to be a standard feature, and this often means that you'll get a built-in GPS antenna.

Sorry Dell, maybe next time. $499 is just too much. $299 is a different story. Of course, if others are looking for a netbook that includes either a built-in GPS or a built-in TV tuner, then you should take a look at the Dell Mini 10 and 10v (starting at $299, but going up to $499 for the nicer models).

Will OQO get acquired?

Jenn at pocketables.net wrote about how OQO might be acquired by the Chinese distributor known as AudioTone. Then, she updated her post by indicating that Picasso (the OQO Talk forum moderator) told her that these are old rumors that have dissolved. So, what's the truth? Does OQO have a chance at survival? It's too bad the major players like Samsung or HTC don't acquire this great technology. It appears that the OQO will suffer the same fate as the Apple Newton Messagepad. Long live the Newton and OQO! I hope that my OQO lives a long life. Although my Newton still works, I don't use it because the grayscale screen just isn't very practical these days. The OQO can always become a small digital picture frame at the least.