Science & Technology

 Runs Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb and is compatible with a Mobile Docking Station

Asus has introduced a new Eee Pad Transformer tablet with a full size Mobile Docking Station that allows it to be used as a notebook. New Asus Transformer tablet runs the Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb update with Asus' new MyWave User Interface on the top of it. Housing a 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, the Transformer tablet has a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, dual-cameras and an HDMI out. The company noted that the tablet would be available in 16GB and 32GB storage capacities for a price range of $400-$700 approximately.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer tablet has 10.1-inch IPS panel-based Corning Gorilla Glass capacitive touchscreen that supports 1280x800 pixel resolution. Its big touchscreen is capable of full 1080p HD playback and also has Adobe Flash Player 10.1 support (one can update with Flash Player 10.2 once product is made available officially). The most important feature of the Transformer tablet is that it houses 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and 1GB RAM that will not only power the tablet but will also ensure smooth full HD playback.

At the back panel lies a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and a 1.2 megapixel at the front usable for the video chat. Other features of the Transformer tablet include Wireless-N and Bluetooth support for wireless connectivity. For physical connectivity, the tablet offers USB port, built-in card reader and HDMI out port. Google Android 3.0 Honeycomb running Transformer features Asus MyWave UI layered on top of it and has WaveShare network media sharing system along with other features.

Transformer also includes Gravity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, E-Compass, Gyroscope and GPS for location based services.

Asus offers an optional Mobile Docking Station which is basically a full QWERTY keyboard to be connected with the tablet. The QWERTY keyboard has Android function keys. Apparently, this mobile docking station is claimed of extending the battery life of the tablet to up to 16 hours. Otherwise, the standalone tablet offers up to 9.5 hours of battery life which is as much as that of the recent Eee PC netbooks.

Long battery life is an important feature and the Apple iPad 2 offers 10 hours of battery life. But what the tablet does with mobile docking station is exceptional - access and control the PC as well as Mac systems using MyCloud feature.

The new Asus Eee Pad Transformer joins the league of Android tablets - Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Motorola XOOM. Quite interesting. Now, we'll have wait to see whether Asus makes this tablet available globally soon.