Lenovo Group Ltd. (HKSE: 0992) (LNVGY)

[revlis]

Changing Corporate Culture Is Hard. Here’s How Lenovo Did It.

This is what corporate culture change looks like: a chief executive camped out in the lobby of headquarters, wearing a “Hello, my name is…” sticker and shaking hands with employees as they walk through the door.

That’s what Yang Yuanqing, the head of personal-computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd.0992.HK -1.02%, did in 1999, according to a new book by two Lenovo executives detailing the Beijing-based company’s transformation from a quintessentially Chinese firm into a global giant with operations in 60 countries.

Previously, employees were used to calling their boss “Chief Executive Officer Yang,” or Yang Zong in Mandarin, a common practice in the formal, hierarchical style of many Chinese companies. But YY, as he is now known within the company, believed such rigid traditions would inhibit Lenovo’s evolution from a Chinese to a global firm.

But just telling employees to change their habit wasn’t enough.

For more than a week, Mr. Yang and his senior leadership team greeted employees in the lobby, shaking hands and introducing themselves with their given names, not their titles. Still, afraid of sounding disrespectful or bad-mannered, many employees mumbled the new greetings or avoided addressing supervisors by name, said Gina Qiao, the company’s senior vice president of global human resources. To move the process along, leaders jokingly threatened to fine workers who clung to the old convention, she added. Eventually, it took.

As more Chinese companies prepare themselves for a broader global presence – e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is likely to hold an initial public offering in September – they will face the same challenges Lenovo did: integrating the Eastern culture in which they emerged with the Western values of many of their customers and a growing portion of their employees.


Yang Yuanqing — but you can call him YY. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
Getting Lenovo workers do act less formally was “a hard sell,” write Qiao and Yolanda Conyers, chief diversity officer, authors of the new book “The Lenovo Way: Managing a Diverse Global Company for Optimal Performance.”

Eventually the “exhausting process… did the trick.” The egalitarian approach helped position the company for later acquisitions and partnerships with overseas firms.

As the authors note, altering corporate culture is a slow, uneven process, driven in many cases by small changes. For Lenovo, that meant offering tea as well as coffee at meetings in the firm’s U.S. facilities to satisfy Chinese managers’ expectations and making employees more aware of subtle communication issues such as Westerners’ habit of jumping into conversations versus the Chinese tendency to wait one’s turn to speak.

The company created a two-day cross-cultural training course called East Meets West for senior leaders and employees working in corporate functions like HR, strategy and research and development. As Lenovo expanded further, it changed the class’s name to Managing Across Cultures. A few thousand of its 54,000 employees have taken the training.

Today, thanks largely to its 2005 acquisition of International Business Machines Corp.’s personal-computer business, Lenovo is the no. 1 seller of PCs in the world by shipments, with a stock price that has nearly doubled in the last two years on the Hong Kong stock exchange, to $11.82 HKD.

The firm’s work is not over. Lenovo is trying to keep up with consumers’ migration to mobile devices, and earlier this year agreed to acquire Google Inc.’s Motorola Mobility smartphone business. It is also in the process of buying IBM’s low-end server unit, and last year purchased a consumer-electronics business in Brazil.

“With each new acquisition,” the authors write, “the integration process begins again.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2014/08/25/changing-corporate-culture-is-hard-heres-how-lenovo-did-it/

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Lenovo rolls out trio of new ThinkCentre business desktop PCs
Summary: The latest models include an all-in-one with a touchscreen option, while all feature Smart USB Protection technology allowing IT staff to control access to the system's USB ports.

While they may not provide the dramatic impact that laptops have made to Lenovo's recent bottom line, business desktops are still being churned out in the tradition of IBM systems from the company's past. Lenovo has just announced a trio of new ThinkCentre desktops in various form factors with an emphasis on security and reliability.

The new additions include the ThinkCentre E63z, which is a 19.5-inch all-in-one PC with an optional touchscreen. The starting price for the E63z is just $479, but versions using Intel's Core i3 processors and/or the touchscreen would presumably cost more. The i3 configurations include niceties such as HDMI out and a rapid-charge USB port to juice up your phone or tablet more quickly. Security features include CompuTrace support.

The ThinkCentre M53 is Lenovo's latest "tiny" business desktop. The compact system allows you to power it up via the USB keyboard and comes with PC Cloud Manager 3.0 to provide remote management. Specs haven't been provided, but PC Mag reports that it is powered by an Intel Pentium processor. It will be priced from $439 when it become available "shortly," in Lenovo's words.

Rounding out the new PCs is the ThinkCentre M79 lineup, available in either a mini tower or a small-form-factor version. Both will make use of AMD's A-series processors and offer SSD or hybrid SSD storage options. Another option is a second DisplayPort connection, which allows you to hook up three displays to the M79. Lenovo offers the M79 with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 support to allow IT administrators to secure and manage the systems remotely. Like the E63z, the M79 is available now at a starting price of $449.

Both the M53 and M79 come with Intelligent Cooling Engine 3.0 technology that manages the system's fans to minimize heat and noise. All three new ThinkCentre families provide Smart USB Protection, which allows the IT staff to control access to USB ports so unauthorized users can't transfer data to or from the desktops via external drives.

http://www.zdnet.com/lenovo-rolls-out-trio-of-new-thinkcentre-business-desktop-pcs-7000032901/

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Lenovo Statement on US Government Clearance of IBM x86 Acquisition

Lenovo can confirm reports that CFIUS has cleared its transaction to acquire IBM’s x86 server business and the companies have completed the regulatory process in the United States. As we have stated consistently for both the x86 and Motorola Mobility acquisitions, we continue to work through a number of regulatory and business processes to ensure an effective and timely closure on both deals. We remain on track to close both deals by the end of the year. Out of respect for the confidentiality of the process, we will not have any further comment until we have met all conditions for closure.

http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1811

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Lenovo’s first activity tracker, plus another tablet get regulatory approval

Lenovo appears to be joining virtually every other consumer electronics company in the wearable space. An unannounced device called the Lenovo Smartband SW-B100 showed up at the Bluetooth SIG website recently, where it’s described as an activity tracker (so don’t expect a full-fledged smartwatch just yet).

Meanwhile, the company appears to have a whole group of new tablets on the way, according to Indonesian regulatory site Postel.

lenovo smartband

Postel shows listings for a number of new Lenovo tablets including Windows models such as the Lenovo Miix 3 (which will likely be a follow-up to last year’s Miix 2 Windows tablet), and the Yoga Tablet 2 (which will likely follow last year’s Android-powered Yoga Tablet.

Most recently a new model called the Yoga Tablet 2 Pro arrived. It’s not clear if Pro means this will be a Windows tablet rather than an Android device, or if it will instead have premium or enterprise features such as a high-resolution display or fingerprint sensor.

Lenovo also offers convertible Windows devices under the Yoga brand, but it usually doesn’t put “tablet in the name. For instance, there appears to be a new model on the way called the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro, and it’s likely that will be a Windows model with a built-in keyboard.

As for the Smartband, Lenovo’s activity tracker features an optical heart rate monitor and Bluetooth 4.0 support for synchronizing data with a smartphone or other device.

It’s not the only wearable device Lenovo is working on. The company also recently unveiled a Smart Glass prototype which could be Lenovo’s answer to Google Glass.

I suspect we’ll hear a lot more about some of these devices once the IFA trade show in Berlin starts in early September.

http://liliputing.com/2014/08/lenovos-first-activity-tracker-plus-another-tablet-get-regulatory-approval.html

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IBM Server Sale to Lenovo Passes U.S. Test
Government Agency That Screens Sensitive Deals Ends Review on $2.3 Billion Pact

International Business Machines Corp. IBM +1.06% said the agreement to sell its low-end server business for $2.3 billion to Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd. 0992.HK +1.04% has passed the U.S. government panel that screens deals with possible national-security implications.

IBM said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. has concluded its review of the company's sale of x86-based server business.

"The parties now look forward to closing the transaction," IBM said in a news release Friday.


IBM says CFIUS has ended its review of the company's $2.3 billion server sale to Lenovo. Above, IBM's offices in New York. Zuma Press
In a separate statement, Lenovo said the deal has completed the regulatory process in the U.S. and is on track to close by the end of the year.

The deal, struck in January, has remained in limbo as the U.S. government investigates security issues around IBM's x86 servers, which are used in the nation's communications networks and in data centers that support the Pentagon's computer networks, The Wall Street Journal reported in June.

The concern is that the servers could be accessed remotely by Chinese spies or hackers or compromised through maintenance, The Journal reported.

Lenovo and IBM say x86 servers are a low-end technology made by other U.S. companies, and that the majority of the servers, including IBM's, are made in China and contain Chinese components. Lenovo also has said that its products are reliable and secure, and that its only objectives are commercial ones.

Lenovo faced similar security questions when it bought IBM's PC business in 2005. Although the PC acquisition was approved by regulators, some sensitive arms of the U.S. government have shied away from using Lenovo products.

For Lenovo, the acquisition could help it compete better against Hewlett-Packard Co. HPQ +0.77% and Dell in servers; meanwhile, for IBM, a sale comes as its hardware business is eroding and the company looks to exit low-margin businesses.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/ibm-server-sale-to-lenovo-passes-u-s-test-1408135593

[revlis]

Lenovo CEO on How It Plans to Grow With Smartphones

Last year, Lenovo Group became the world’s largest personal-computer maker, overtaking Hewlett-Packard. Now, the Chinese company is trying to repeat the success with smartphones, competing head-on with Samsung Electronics in emerging markets.


Lenovo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at a press conference. Reuters
Lenovo said Thursday its net profit for the quarter through June rose 23% from a year earlier, while revenue increased 18%. Solid growth was thanks in part to a jump in smartphone sales in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America, according to the company.Lenovo, the world’s fourth-largest smartphone maker in the second quarter according to IDC, is in the process of buying Google’s Motorola Mobility handset business for $2.91 billion. At the same time, the company is trying to complete a $2.3 billion deal to buy International Business Machines’ low-end server business.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Lenovo Chief Executive Yang Yuanqing talked about the company’s smartphone strategy and how Motorola will help it become more competitive. Below are edited excerpts of the interview.

WSJ: China’s smartphone market is crowded and very competitive. How will Lenovo compete?

Yang: In the second quarter, we became the No. 1 smartphone vendor in China for the first time, according to IDC. While selling our phones through carriers, we have been expanding open-market (non-carrier channels) and online sales channels. We are also using more social media for marketing.

I would say China is the most competitive market in the world. There are so many local players, and some of them are not logical in how they do business. They don’t want to make money in the short term. We definitely don’t want to lose our leadership position in China, and we must balance growth in market share with profitability. Our smartphone business in China make a little bit of money, but not so much.

WSJ: How is Lenovo doing outside China?

Yang: Although China is still the most important market for our smartphone business, we think we have even more opportunities outside China, particularly in emerging markets. In the quarter through June, our smartphone shipments grew almost 300% in Southeast Asia and more than 500% in Eastern Europe. Those are our future potential markets, so we definitely put more effort and more resources into those markets. Profitability in those markets is actually better than that in China. Not only can those markets give us growth, but they can also give us profit.

WSJ: How will Motorola help Lenovo?

Yang: With the Motorola acquisition, we can become an even stronger global player. Motorola’s business is very complementary to Lenovo’s smartphone business. They are strong in North America and Latin America. Their new products are showing some strong results in Western Europe and India too. When the two companies are combined we will definitely become a more competitive player in most of the key markets.

We are encouraged by Motorola’s improvements. Their results for the latest quarter are much better than the previous year. Our commitment is we will turn around Motorola in four to six quarters. Today, I’m even more optimistic about meeting that target.

WSJ: Other Chinese smartphone makers like Huawei are also expanding overseas. How will you compete against them?

Yang: We have some unique advantages. We have a stronger brand than other Chinese players because of our core PC business. In mature markets, our Motorola acquisition can also help by giving us access to intellectual property.

WSJ: What’s Lenovo’s advantage against Samsung?

The smartphone market’s focus is shifting from premium products to mainstream and entry-level products. We have seen this before in the PC market, and we have a lot of experience in these kinds of transitions.

We know how to develop products for mainstream and entry-level markets. We have good supply chain management. We know how to balance innovation with efficiency.

WSJ: You have said before that you expect to close both the Motorola and IBM server business acquisitions by the end of this year. Any updates?

Yang: We have no change in our schedule. We are working with multiple governments to get their approvals. We are making a lot of progress and we are still on track to close those deals this year.

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/08/14/qa-lenovo-ceo-on-how-it-plans-to-grow-in-smartphones/

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Lenovo ThinkServer Now Offering Shared DAS Clustering With Avago Technologies Syncro Solution
Globe Newswire
Syncro Controllers Bring Shared Storage With RAID Along With Storage Clustering and Failover to Expanded Lineup of Lenovo Server Systems

August 13, 2014: 05:30 AM ET


SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avago Technologies (Nasdaq:AVGO) today announced that Lenovo has selected the Syncro® storage controller family for shared storage clustering in its latest ThinkServer systems. The Syncro 9286-8e CS adds new levels of value to Lenovo systems by providing RAID protection along with shared storage, while also delivering storage clustering and failover. The Lenovo RAID systems, powered by Syncro storage, provide a robust, easy-to-deploy storage clustering solution optimized for the needs of SMBs.
The Lenovo RAID system helps protect businesses from data loss and system failure. When business-critical data is not accessible, the results can be lost revenue, lost productivity, and reduced customer satisfaction. Syncro storage controllers are designed to reduce downtime for critical applications, making failover transparent to the application. They also provide robust data protection and high performance in addition to low cost and low complexity. Syncro storage controllers also add additional benefits of shared storage and high availability not associated with DAS only solutions.
"SMBs that face data disruption are heavily impacted by system outages since data is the lifeline between businesses and customers," said Jas Tremblay, vice president of marketing, Data Center Solutions Group at Avago. "The new Lenovo systems with the Syncro solution deliver enterprise capabilities in data sharing and continuous application uptime that are cost-effective for the SMB market and help ensure uninterrupted productivity."
Lenovo introduced the ThinkServer with the Syncro storage controller using Microsoft Windows Server 2012. Support for the Linux operating system is coming in the near future. The complete solution is configured and managed simply through the operating system, eliminating the need for additional software packages.
"Lenovo customers face the same challenges managing costs, as IT departments work in an era where they are expected to do more with fewer resources," said Darrel Ward, vice president and general manager, Lenovo Enterprise Business Group. "Lenovo RAID powered by the Syncro solution helps IT departments do just that, and provides much of the functionality one could find in an enterprise SAN, while eliminating the complexity and management required."
Built on MegaRAID® technology, the Syncro family uses two controller cards to allow system administrators to build a high-availability, shared DAS solution. The Syncro CS 9286-8e can provide shared storage clustering using two Lenovo volume servers and JBOD. This affordable high-availability solution brings shared storage and controller failover to DAS environments.
Syncro storage controllers are currently shipping to the worldwide distribution network and OEM customers. Visit the Syncro solution page for more information.
About Avago Technologies?
Avago Technologies is a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of analog, digital, mixed signal and optoelectronics components and subsystems with a focus in III-V compound semiconductor design and processing. Backed by an extensive portfolio of intellectual property, Avago products serve four primary target markets: wireless communications, wired infrastructure, enterprise storage, and industrial and other. For more information, visit Avago's website: www.avagotech.com.
Follow Avago on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Avagotech and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Avagotech.
Avago, Avago Technologies, the A logo and Storage by LSI are trademarks of Avago Technologies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.??

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/globenewswire/10094436.htm

[revlis]

Lenovo Redefines Performance, Reliability and Usability of Desktop Workstations with ThinkStation P Series

PC Innovator Unleashes Professional-grade Desktop Workstations Designed to Exceed Today's Demands and Anticipate Tomorrow's Challenges

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 12, 2014--
Lenovo (SEHK:0992) (Pink Sheets:LNVGY) today, at SIGGRAPH 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia, announced the launch of the ThinkStation P Series, unveiling its vision for the ultimate in desktop workstation performance, reliability and usability. Rebuilt from the ground up, the Lenovo ThinkStation P900, P700 and P500 workstations join the entry-level ThinkStation P300, announced in May 2014, as the most powerful professional-grade desktop workstations available. Now, professionals in engineering, architecture, media and entertainment, oil & gas, medical & science, finance and other industries can arm themselves with workstation technology selected and configured to meet their needs for enhanced productivity and limitless innovation.

"After a period of intensive research, development and testing, we're excited to introduce our next generation workstations to the market, as we truly believe this is the best designed workstation ever," said Victor Rios, vice president and general manager, Workstation, Lenovo. "We built on the advancements delivered in our 30 Series workstations and engineered the P Series with new levels of innovation based on extensive customer feedback. The result for users is optimum performance, outstanding reliability and unparalleled usability that is unlike anything they have experienced."

Whether it's engineers working in computer-aided design, artists creating the latest blockbuster action sequence or geophysicists interpreting seismic data for oil & gas exploration, users of professional desktop workstations require the best-performing, most reliable and most usable hardware available. The applications these professionals use to innovate in their industries continue to grow more complex and resource-intensive. As a result, users need desktop workstations that can not only meet the application demands of today but also be configured to anticipate the challenges of tomorrow.

Designed for optimum performance, reliability and usability, Lenovo's new ThinkStation P Series workstations represent a quantum leap forward for workstation technology. Key benefits of the new systems include:

Ease of Use

The Lenovo ThinkStation P Series features a clean, modular design, making it easier to access components for uncomplicated upgrades.

-- Tool-less Upgrades: Access critical components -- even the motherboard --
without the need for a single tool.

-- Red Touch Points: Intuitive red touch points guide users' hands to quick
and easy component changes.

-- Integrated Handles: Makes lifting and carrying easy -- and allows the
system to fit conveniently into any workspace. The integrated handles
also allow for easy rack mounting.

-- QR Codes: Have support questions about your components? Scan the QR code,
and you will be directed to our website with detailed information on
system architecture and component technical specifications.

-- Diagnostic Port: Plug your Android-based tablet or smartphone into the
USB port for system analysis using the ThinkStation app, or use any USB
mass storage device to transfer diagnostic information directly to the
dedicated ThinkStation diagnostics web page.
Thermal Management

Keeping components cool is the key to reliability. Lenovo ThinkStation workstations have historically been the coolest in the industry, and the P Series is the coolest system yet.

-- Tri Channel Cooling: ThinkStation P Series utilizes a patented
tri-channel architecture resulting in superior cooling of key components.

-- Air Baffle: Through a one-of-a-kind, fan-less, multi-channel air baffle,
the redesigned system draws in maximum airflow, directing cool air
straight to critical system components. Warm air is forced out the back
without ever touching other components along the way.
Flexibility

Lenovo has brought the idea of expansion to an entirely new level. From memory and storage capacity to power supply and I/O slots, the P Series offers unique configurations that let users customize the right components no matter what their profession requires for a fully loaded experience.

-- FLEX Bay: The FLEX Bay has been designed to support an optical drive or
the FLEX Module, which can be used to support an ultraslim optical drive,
a media card reader, or Firewire (IEEE 1394).

-- FLEX Tray: Newly designed HDD trays support both 2.5" and 3.5" hard
drives. And with one tray supporting up to two 2.5" hard drives, users
can add as many as 14 drives (P900 model only).

-- FLEX Connector: Professionals can increase functionality without
sacrificing rear PCIe slots using a mezzanine card that connects to the
motherboard -- allowing for support for SATA/SAS/PCIe storage and
advanced RAID solutions.

-- Power Supply: Easily remove the tool-less power supply without worrying
about cables. For the P700 and P500 models, this means users can match
the size of the power supply to their systems' unique configuration,
allowing them to pay for the performance they truly need.
Performance

Boosting productivity starts with incomparable computing and graphics performance. With the Lenovo ThinkStation P Series, users can run their mission-critical applications to their limits -- from advanced rendering and simulation to analysis of vast data sets.

-- Cutting-Edge Processing: The latest Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors provide
critical computing horsepower.

-- Unparalleled Graphical Capabilities: The latest NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R)
graphics cards provide unmatched visualization performance.

-- Memory: The P Series supports a high capacity of DDR4 memory to handle
any complex computational task with RAM to spare.

-- ISV-Certified Software: The P Series is certified to work on all key ISV
applications. In fact, there's a good chance that many of the world's
largest ISVs developed their software using ThinkStation workstations.

-- Pushing the Limits of Expandability: The ThinkStation P900 supports up to
three NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R) K6000 graphic cards and up to 14 storage
devices.
"We want our customers to know that we listened to their demands for a higher-performing, more reliable and more usable workstation, and our ThinkStation P Series represents our response to those demands," said Rob Herman, director, Worldwide Workstation Product and Vertical Marketing, Lenovo. "We've partnered with the best technology makers in the world and engineered these new workstations to be more intuitive, flexible and powerful than any workstation technology available, regardless of the level of user. We're excited to bring this technology to customers and, more importantly, to see how they'll use the ThinkStation P Series workstations to power new innovations in their respective industries."

Lenovo Services

Businesses can opt for a variety of service and support solutions to fit their needs. With a committed focus on customer, quality and responsiveness, Lenovo Services offers innovative and integrated solutions to ensure maximum productivity. Warranty Extensions, Upgrades, Accidental Damage Protection, Keep Your Drive, Priority Technical Support and a complete set of factory and automated deployment services help organizations effectively bridge the gap between consumer and business.

Availability

The new Lenovo ThinkStation P Series workstations will be available starting later this fall through Lenovo business partners and on www.lenovo.com. More information about the P Series can be found at www.thinkworkstations.com. For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

Quotes:

"As data sets get larger and more complex, our customers need increasingly powerful, interactive performance. The P Series delivers this capability by utilizing the new generation of NVIDIA Quadro GPUs to ensure that users get the most out of their investments," said Jeff Brown, VP and general manager, Professional Solutions Group, NVIDIA. "We've worked together with Lenovo to provide a high-performance system built to run the most demanding professional applications at the core of our customers' workflows."

"Lenovo's new P Series workstations are built for professionals seeking the latest in form, fit, function, performance and advanced reliability features," said Frank Soqui, general manager Technical Compute Cloud and Client, Intel. "These workstations, based on the latest Intel(R) Xeon(R) processors will also support Intel(R) Thunderbolt 2 technology and play a key role in helping engineers, analysts, artists, editors, researchers and scientists rapidly create, test and modify their assumptions. The new P Series from Lenovo will help users explore more ideas in less time than ever before, enabling them to discover the optimal results they need."

"Our customers use SOLIDWORKS to take advantage of 3D in bringing their designs to life," said Gian Paolo Bassi, vice president Research & Development SOLIDWORKS, Dassault Systèmes. "We're excited to see that Lenovo's new workstations are equipped to handle even our most advanced applications for simulation and design, with reliability that ensures minimal downtime and unimpeded productivity."

"Creative professionals using the high-performance Lenovo P Series workstations will be empowered to do more with Adobe Creative Cloud than they ever thought possible," said Simon Williams, director of strategic alliances at Adobe. "Lenovo and Adobe together give users real creative freedom with no boundaries."

"PTC Creo customers benefit from a range of workstation choices to meet their CAD usage scenarios, from conceptual engineering to design, simulation, visual collaboration and more," said Brian Thompson, vice president, CAD Segment Product Management, PTC. The new ThinkStation P Series workstations enable this choice on a number of innovative dimensions: performance, configurability and serviceability."

"Users of our applications help us imagine, design and create a better world," said Amy Bunszel, vice president of AutoCAD products, Autodesk. "Whether they are design professionals, digital artists or students, our software helps users design whatever their imaginations can dream up. Lenovo's new P Series workstations help them make their ideas reality with the performance, reliability and usability they require."

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140812-900017.html

[revlis]

Yuanqing Yang Statement on China Smartphone Rankings

IDC has published its country-level data on smartphone market share for the second quarter of 2014. They concluded Lenovo had record high worldwide market share of 5.2% and became largest vendor of smartphones in China, with 12.5% market share. The following statement on the IDC’s findings, attributable to Yang Yuanqing, Lenovo’s Chairman and CEO:

“Building on our global momentum, we have strengthened our position as the world’s number 4 smartphone player and we are pleased with our progress. Even more, we are proud today that for the first time Lenovo is the number 1 smartphone company in China, the world’s largest smartphone market. To win, Lenovo is focused on continuing to bring innovation, quality and choice to customers in China and around the world.

Globally, the smartphone market is shifting from premium to mainstream – and this trend favors Lenovo’s strengths. We have experience from our PC success in building a strong, sustainable business in this kind of environment. Looking ahead, we will solidify our China smartphone business while focusing on profitable growth in this highly competitive market. We will also continue to boldly attack emerging market opportunities where we see even more room for growth. And, pending regulatory approvals, our acquisition of Motorola Mobility will give us a global presence so that we can become a true, strong number 3 worldwide and a credible challenger to the top players in the industry.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Other research houses have reached different conclusions about the China market share rankings, as a matter of historical practice Lenovo has used IDC’s figures in its external reporting.

http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1807

[revlis]

Let’s hope this skinny six-inch Lenovo smartphone makes its way to the United States

In the U.S., Lenovo is best known for making Thinkpads and other laptops, but it’s actually the world’s third largest smartphone vendor, according to most estimates. Most of those sales are in China and Latin America from mid-range Android smartphones, but according to a video posted to Lenovo’s English language Google+ account, its got a new flagship-level handset on the way.



We don’t have a full spec sheet, pricing, or a release date for the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro yet, although the video includes details pointing to a handset positively packed with the latest components: It’s got a 6-inch, 2560 × 1440 screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with an LTE modem, and a 14-megapixel camera in what looks to be a very thin package. It’s a step up from the Vibe Z announced earlier this year and its improved specs should keep this device competitive with the LG G3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note expected to come out later this fall.

Here’s the problem — the Vibe Z never made it to either the United States or Europe. Lenovo currently doesn’t sell any devices in those markets, although it did buy Motorola, which does. The deal has yet to be officially completed, but let’s face it, the Moto X or its successor are totally different devices than this skinny Lenovo-branded phablet. Last year, Lenovo said it wanted to sell smartphones in the United States “within a year.” I’d say the Vibe Z2 Pro is a great first candidate.

Image copyright .

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/let-hope-skinny-six-inch-175743925.html

[revlis]

Lenovo B50-30, First Take: A Windows notebook at a Chromebook price point
Summary: If you're envious of the affordability of Chrome OS laptops, but need to run Windows applications, Lenovo's 15.6-inch B50-30 has much to recommend it.

Low-cost business notebooks don't get much less expensive than the Lenovo B50-30 which starts at £190.83 (ex. VAT, £229 inc. VAT). Aimed at the small business market, the 15.6-inch B50-30 is a basic but functional Windows notebook that'll handle everyday workloads such as email, web browsing and low-level document/spreadsheet work.

lenovo-b50-main
Lenovo's B50-30 is an affordable 15.6-inch Windows notebook aimed at small businesses. Image: Lenovo
The Lenovo B50-30 is powered by Intel's 2.16/2.41GHz dual-core Celeron N2830 processor and is supported by 4GB of RAM (expandable to a maximum of 8GB). It's not an especially speedy combination, and we noticed pauses for applications to open and websites to resolve during the review period. How you perceive the B50-30's performance will depend on how demanding your favourite apps are, how much you multi-task and your patience.

Build quality is very solid as far as the chassis is concerned, and if you don't mind lugging 2.15kg (or 2.32kg with the optional optical drive), this notebook should survive in transit without a protective case. The keyboard is another matter: as a light-touch typist, I found it comfortable to use — but when I started bashing the keys there was a significant degree of flex in the keyboard that heavier-handed typists may find unacceptable.

The keyboard layout is rather good. The 38cm by 26.2cm by 2.47cm chassis means there's space for a slightly reduced-size number pad and a long row above the number keys comprising no fewer than 20 keys, including the 12 Fn keys. The touchpad, which has a pair of physical buttons, is responsive and functional but does not support multi-touch gestures.

The large 15.6-inch screen has a matte finish, as befits a business-focused notebook. It's bright enough for everyday use, but low resolution at 1,366 by 768 pixels. There's no touch-screen option.

A big laptop like this has room for an optical drive. There are also three USB ports, although only one of them is USB 3.0. You also get an Ethernet (RJ-45) port plus VGA and HDMI connectors. There's a headset/microphone combo jack and an SD card reader too.

The 320GB hard drive should be large enough for most needs. For wireless connectivity there's 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n, with Bluetooth 4.0 optional. Lenovo claims up to six hours' battery life for the B50-30.

http://www.zdnet.com/lenovo-b50-30-first-take-a-windows-notebook-at-a-chromebook-price-point-7000032376/

[revlis]

Lenovo's new flagship features Quad HD screen, metal body and huge battery

Lenovo isn't exactly well-known for its smartphones this side of the Pacific, but it's got a solid following in Asia. Now, Motorola's soon-to-be parent company is showing off more of its mobile chops with a six-inch Quad HD (2,560x1,440) flagship device called the Vibe Z2 Pro. Besides the super high-res display, the Pro's not lacking in other features: For starters, it'll come with a metallic brushed-weave unibody frame and 4,000mAh battery, which is more than generous even with the phone's large chassis (to compare, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is 3,200mAh and the HTC One Max is 3,300).


At 7.7mm, the Pro is reasonably thin (and hopefully not so thin that it's difficult to hold, like on the Sony Xperia Z Ultra), and it weighs 179 grams (6.31 ounces), which isn't out of the ordinary for a metallic phone of this size. The Android 4.4 device will pack a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset, along with 3GB RAM and a 16MP rear camera with dual LED flash and optical image stabilization. It comes with dual-SIM capabilities, but doesn't offer a microSD slot; 32GB internal storage is all you get here.

The pro will come in titanium, gold and black color options and will be available starting in September. Lenovo hasn't specified pricing or availability, but we're guessing that the flagship won't wander too far away from Asia.

39 COMMENTS

http://www.engadget.com/2014/08/05/lenovo-vibe-z2-pro/

[revlis]

Lenovo Statement on Latest IDC Smartphone Report

IDC data on the global smartphone market for 2Q2014, shows the worldwide market increased 23%, while Lenovo strongly outpaced with a 39% increase. Lenovo remained number 4 while it narrowed the gap with Apple and Samsung.

Below is a statement that can be attributable to Lenovo’s Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing:

“IDC’s smartphone report demonstrates that Lenovo continues to have outstanding balance and strong momentum across our entire product portfolio. It has been a month of milestones. First, record high PC share as we approach 20% and strengthen our leadership in that market. Then for the first time we became the number 3 tablet provider in the world, with 64% growth. And now, record smartphone performance in China, solid expansion outside China and global growth of nearly 40% have made us an even stronger number 4 player globally.”

“With our continued organic growth and expansion, plus the opportunity presented by our acquisition of Motorola, pending final approvals, we are in great position to maintain our momentum. We have tremendous balance between our core business – especially a profitable PC business – and growth engines like tablet, smartphone, enterprise and ecosystem. We expect to continue to build on these strong results.”
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http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1805

[revlis]

Hightail Provides Cloud Services for Lenovo Devices
Hightail Makes Cloud File Sharing and Management Service Easy for Lenovo PCs and Tablets

CAMPBELL, CA, Jul 29, 2014 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Leading file-sharing service Hightail today announced a new strategic collaboration with Lenovo, one of the largest smart connected device companies in the world. Hightail is pre-loaded on select new Lenovo PCs and Windows tablets, bringing the benefits of cloud collaboration straight to Lenovo customers around the world. With the dedicated Hightail for Lenovo app, users can securely send files, share folders, sign documents and store files in the cloud for easy access across devices. All consumers who sign up through Lenovo will immediately receive 5GB of free Hightail storage.

"Partnering with a global leader like Lenovo gives us a fantastic opportunity to grow our user base by aligning with one of the biggest, most innovative connected device distributors in the world," said Eric van Miltenburg, Hightail's GM of Partnerships. "Everyone needs to access and control their files across their preferred platforms and devices. Integrating with Lenovo means a unified management experience so users don't have to think about managing their files at all."

Data security and information control are top priorities for Hightail. Hightail utilizes Single Sign-On (SSO) to provide its business customers with a secure way of helping approved users access different services without having to remember multiple passwords. This practice of simplifying controls without compromising security is extended to consumers through a tie-in with Lenovo ID, a secure cloud-based user authentication system that provides easy management of websites, applications, media and files through a single username and password across platforms.

"We are very excited about Hightail helping Lenovo execute a more intimate user experience by integrating valuable cloud services to Lenovo ID and Lenovo's smart connected devices," said Mark Cohen, Distinguished Engineer and Vice President of Ecosystems and Monetization. "Providing secure and convenient access to online storage is a core element for Lenovo's cloud strategy moving forward. Hightail has delivered on this promise of value by providing convenient and easy-to-use storage with enterprise level security."

This new strategic collaboration delivers Hightail's intuitive, enterprise-grade security features, including data encryption, password protection, download tracking, identity verification and file expiration dates, to Lenovo customers across the globe. Hightail will tightly integrate into Lenovo's smart connected devices and enable secure access to any file on any device. The Hightail experience will be available across Windows, Android, and Web platforms for end users to have access to their files across multiple devices.

About Hightail Hightail helps more than 45 million professionals around the world securely share and control files from anywhere.

Learn more here.

SOURCE: Hightail

(C) 2014 Marketwire L.P. All rights reserved.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hightail-provides-cloud-services-for-lenovo-devices-2014-07-29

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Lenovo Unveils Internet-centric Business Platform in China Aimed at Startups

The first wave of new products launched – new glass, new air and newifi

Beijing, July 24, 2014 --- Lenovo today unveiled New Business Development (NBD), a new internet-centric business platform in China aimed at startups. The first wave of three innovative smart devices under NBD has also been launched, namely the new glass smart glasses, the new air smart air cleaner and the newifi smart router.

The NBD platform provides a vehicle where partner startups can leverage Lenovo’s resources such as software, hardware, sales channels and services utilizing their own innovative technologies and leading-edge concepts in product development. This collaboration is an example of a win-win outcome from sharing resources and can drive the development of more powerful smart devices for customers.

“We have always said innovation will differentiate Lenovo. We continue to drive innovation both in terms of our own product development and in terms of sparking it with interesting partners. We think we bring something unique to the table – a proven track record in innovation, a strong presence in the China market, great relationships with channels there. It is natural for us to try to leverage these advantages to bring new technologies to market. This will drive growth. NBD represents our approach to attacking this opportunity,” said Peter Hortensius, Chief Technology Officer of Lenovo.”

“We also think that the transformation in the marketplace to an internet centric business model creates interesting new opportunities for larger companies like Lenovo to partner with smaller companies focused on unique, innovative concepts. And we can use the internet to get better insights, target hot new opportunities, and meet customer demands incredibly quickly. We will continue to develop and unleash our own innovative products across a wide range of categories. At the same we want to be a company that helps fuel innovation in the industry and bring new ideas and interesting products to customers,” he continued.

The first wave of new products, the new glass, new air and newifi was released today:

new glass – There are two smart glasses designed for two different types of customers in China. The first one, M100, is designed for industry users in collaboration with Vuzix Company, a US-based company. The new M100 glasses fulfill the needs of industry such as machinery, logistics and medical segment clients through more functional solutions. The other smart glasses “new glass” is specially designed for Chinese consumers in collaboration with Ceyes Company. Both of the new smart glasses run Chinese operating systems and are adapted to the internet environment in China.



new air - The “new air” line comprises three models of air purifiers, the LUFTMED D300, LUFTMED D600 and the new air X330 that are produced by Lenovo and LUFTMED Company, a Germany-based company. The LUFTMED D300/D600 has a robust 99% rejection rate of 0.1 µm particles and guarantees a maximum air circulation of 500 m3/h, with a unique TFT screen monitoring real-time air parameters. The air purifiers can be controlled remotely by a smartphone through cloud technology which enables the customers to monitor the air quality at home anywhere at any time.

newifi – This smart router has been jointly developed by Lenovo and D-Team Inc., a China-based company, and offers an outstanding user experience including excellent performance, user-friendly operation, rich functionality, strong and stable transmission signal. The newifi is equipped with special applications that can avoid stealing or hacking of internet traffic communication while securing privacy.

http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1804

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Lenovo Yoga 2 10 inch convertible tablet on the way?

Lenovo may be preparing to expand its Yoga tablet family with a new 10 inch model called the Yoga 2 10. It’s not clear if this is a Windows or Android tablet, although there’s reason to believe it’s a new addition to the company’s line of Android tablets.

While Lenovo’s Yoga devices that run Windows have built-in keyboards, the Android models do not… and we first learned about the Yoga 2 10 from an FCC listing for a Bluetooth keyboard. You don’t generally need a Bluetooth keyboard for a device that has one built in.

yoga 2 10

The FCC documents describe the device as a Bluetooth keyboard cover for the Lenovo Yoga 2 10? and tell us that the keyboard has a micro USB port and seems to support Bluetooth Low Energy. That’s about all we know at this point.

Lenovo uses the Yoga name to describe two different sets of products: Windows notebooks that become tablets when you push the screen back 360 degrees and Android tablets with built-in kickstand/handles. Since this device uses an external keyboard it’s either an Android model or an entirely new type of Windows device.

So far the “Yoga 2? name has only been used for Windows models with Intel Haswell or Bay Trail processors, but I suppose it could also describe a next-generation version of the company’s Android devices. The current Yoga line of Android tablets feature MediaTek or Qualcomm processors, HD or full HD displays, 1GB of RAM, and one feature (aside from the kickstands) which helps them stand out: up to 18 hours of battery life.

http://liliputing.com/2014/07/lenovo-yoga-2-10-inch-convertible-tablet-way.html

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Andrea Files Patent Infringement Lawsuits Against Toshiba, Lenovo And Acer

BOHEMIA, N.Y., July 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrea Electronics Corporation , a leading developer of hardware and software microphone technologies, announced today that it has filed patent infringement lawsuits against Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba America, Inc., Toshiba America Information Systems, Lenovo Group Ltd., Lenovo Holding Company, Inc., Lenovo (United States) Inc., Acer Inc., and Acer America Corporation, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Andrea is asserting infringement related to U.S. Patent numbers 6,483,923 ("System and Method for Adaptive Interference Cancelling"), 5,825,898 ("System and Method for Adaptive Interference Cancelling"), 6,363,345 ("System, Method and Apparatus for Cancelling Noise"), and 6,049,607 ("Interference Canceling Method and Apparatus").

According to the Complaints, the named defendants offer in the United States products, such as desktop and laptop computers, that use the patent protected audio enhancement technology. The suits seek, among other things, monetary damages and injunctive relief prohibiting the defendants from using the patented technology in their products.

An American Innovator Since 1934, Andrea Electronics has been an American-owned business on the leading edge of innovation. In the early 1940's, Andrea was one of the very first elite U.S. television manufacturers. In the 60's the company designed the capsule's intercom communication system used in the first manned Mercury space flight and military intercoms for F16 fighter jets and helicopters. Andrea's microphone array and other advanced noise cancellation technologies have been embedded into hundreds of millions of computers and other devices. The SuperBeam Stereo Array Microphone headsets and DA- 250 digital microphone stand alone solution for OEMs are among the latest innovations from Andrea Electronics.

About Andrea Electronics Andrea Electronics Corporation designs, develops and manufactures audio technologies and equipment for enhancing applications requiring high performance quality voice input. The company's patented Digital Super Directional Array (DSDATM), PureAudioTM and EchoStopTM far-field microphone technologies enhance a wide range of audio products to eliminate background noise and ensure the optimum performance of voice applications. Visit Andrea Electronics' website at www.AndreaElectronics.com

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/andrea-files-patent-infringement-lawsuits-against-toshiba-lenovo-and-acer-2014-07-28

[revlis]

Lenovo C1 Announced

It does look as though competition among different companies in the wearable tech market is starting to heat up, and we did bring you word about Lenovo’s prototype smart glasses not too long ago. Well, it seems that this particular model will be known as the Lenovo C1, and as mentioned earlier, it will feature a battery that is worn around the neck – something which is definitely out of the ordinary that some folks might think it to be weird or strange.
Having announced the Lenovo C1 smart glasses on the NBD platform, which is a China-only initiative at this point in time, although Lenovo does possess the ability and scale to expand such a program around the world – especially when products that are appealing enough to be sold to a global consumer base. NBD does however, possess the logistical framework at the moment courtesy of Lenovo’s established PC business. After all, the entire point of establishing the NBD platform is to address a broader market in a more efficient manner, since building the hardware independently and keeping one’s fingers crossed for it to sell is a potentially fatal mistake.
As to how the Lenovo C1 will be able to do in the market when compared to the likes of Google Glass, that remains to be seen. After all, the Lenovo C1 lacks the kind of clout and “wow factor” that Glass carries with it, which could prove vital in making or breaking a particular product.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/07/lenovo-c1-announced/

[revlis]

Vuzix Signs Deal with Lenovo and Announces M100 Smart Glasses Product Launch into China
Award Winning M100 Gains Direct Access To Mainland China Through Relationship with World's Largest PC Manufacturer

ROCHESTER, N.Y., July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Vuzix Corporation ("Vuzix" or, the "Company"), a leading supplier of Video Eyewear and smart glasses products in the consumer, commercial and entertainment markets, is pleased to announce that it has signed a major deal with Lenovo, the world's largest PC company to launch the award-winning M100 Smart Glasses into China.

The wearable product offering will be co-branded as a Vuzix/Lenovo solution and will be marketed across China as part of Lenovo's New Business Development (NBD) brand. The "Vuzix 100 Smart Glasses powered by Lenovo NBD" will be marketed exclusively by Lenovo. The agreement between the companies calls for Vuzix to be the exclusive third party provider of smart glasses to Lenovo for the industrial and commercial markets in China and allows for the expansion into other geographical markets and products. Vuzix has worked closely with Lenovo and their development teams to create a new M100 Smart Glasses product offering specifically tailored for the Chinese marketplace with features which include Chinese language, voice recognition, mapping and numerous other domestic cloud based services. This agreement is a major step for Vuzix and through Lenovo will bring it distinction as the first official Smart Glasses product to have direct access into China.

As part of the partnership, Lenovo will begin immediate marketing of the co-branded Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses, with sales shipments commencing in early September and more broad based sales activities across China growing through the Fall of 2014.

Paul Travers, Chief Executive Officer of Vuzix, said, "China is a significant milestone for us and for the wearable industry. Lenovo is world renowned for its high quality products and exceptional engineering, making them the most ideal partner with which to bring our M100 Smart Glasses to China. As Lenovo is number one worldwide in supplying computers to business and the public sector and the number 3 supplier of smart-connected devices (smartphones and tablets), we see strong market opportunities for our M100 as it was specifically designed for those markets. Additionally we hope the M100 is just the first in a line of future products the companies may introduce together incorporating Vuzix' video eyewear technology for sale in China and perhaps elsewhere."

"Lenovo is always seeking new and innovative products that merge and integrate technology into products that offer our customers a high degree of functionality and convenience," said Mr. Yuli Bai, Vice-President, Lenovo Group, General Manager New Business Development. "The advent of wearable technologies and specifically Smart Glasses, exceeds that goal and provides a new level of mobility in computing and communications systems. As an established and leading supplier of smart glasses technology, Vuzix was an obvious choice for this strategic partnership."

The Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center (IEK) under the government sponsored Industrial Technology Research Institute predicted that the wearable device market will reach US$20.6 billion in 2018, and in China is expected to reach 40 million sales volume and $1.9 billion market scale in 2015.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/vuzix-signs-deal-with-lenovo-and-announces-m100-smart-glasses-product-launch-into-china-2014-07-24?reflink=MW_news_stmp

[revlis]

Lenovo plans new small-screen Windows tablet for U.S. market
Lenovo has stopped sales of small-screen Windows tablets in the U.S., but says it will be back with a new model

By Agam Shah
July 21, 2014 05:09 AM ET
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IDG News Service - Lenovo has stopped sales of its existing small-screen Windows tablets in the U.S., but plans a new model for release by the end of the year.

"We will continue to bring new Windows devices to market across different screen sizes, including a new 8-inch tablet and 10-inch tablet coming this holiday," the company said in a statement.

Lenovo meanwhile has stopped U.S. sales of its existing small-screen Windows tablets, including the ThinkPad 8 and Miix 2 tablets with 8-inch screens, which was first reported by the IDG News Service. Lenovo cited stronger demand for larger-screen models.

The company now says, however, that it intends to remain in the small-screen Windows tablet business in the U.S. with the launch of the new 8-inch model during the holiday season.

"Our model mix changes as per customer demand, and although we are no longer selling ThinkPad 8 in the U.S., and we have sold out of Miix [2] 8-inch, we are not getting out of the small-screen Windows tablet business," Lenovo said.

Lenovo has redirected stock of the ThinkPad 8 to developing countries. A company spokesman declined to comment on whether buyers in the U.S. would be able to order Miix 2 again, or when it would be back in stock.

Dell, Toshiba and Acer are among a few companies selling Windows tablets with screen sizes under 10 inches. Microsoft in May was due to announce a small-screen Windows 8.1 RT tablet along with the Surface Pro 3, but scrapped plans.

Agam Shah covers PCs, tablets, servers, chips and semiconductors for IDG News Service. Follow Agam on Twitter at @agamsh. Agam's e-mail address is [e-mail]

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9249847/Lenovo_plans_new_small_screen_Windows_tablet_for_U.S._market?taxonomyId=12

[revlis]

Clarification on Lenovo Statement on Sales of Small Screen Windows-Based Tablets

We will continue to bring new Windows devices to market across different screen sizes, including a new 8-inch tablet and 10-inch tablet coming this holiday. Our model mix changes as per customer demand, and although we are no longer selling ThinkPad 8 in the U.S., and we have sold out of Miix 8-inch, we are not getting out of the small-screen Windows tablet business as was reported by the media. In short, we will continue to sell both 8 and 10 inch Windows tablets in both the U.S. and non-U.S markets.

http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1803

[revlis]

PC giant Lenovo halts US sales of small Windows tablets

Lenovo has pulled all 10-inch and smaller Windows tablets from US shelves, citing a lack of demand. The world's largest Windows computer maker had two models on the market: the 8-inch, stylus-equipped Miix 2 and the ThinkPad 8. A spokesman told PC World that it'll shuttle remaining stock of both of those models over to developing countries where "demand has been much stronger." Lenovo will continue to sell all its other Windows-based tablets stateside, like the 10-inch Miix 2 convertible and ThinkPad 10, saying those models are selling well stateside. It's fair to say consumers won't miss the ThinkPad 8 anyway, as the model was saddled with terrible battery life and other issues. Ironically, Microsoft recently made Windows free for devices 9-inches in size or smaller -- but clearly the price was just one issue consumers had with small Windows tablets.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/18/lenovo-halts-us-sales-of-small-windows-tablets/

[revlis]

TigerDirect Launches TigerDirect Innovation: IT Conference and Expo Sponsored by Lenovo
Premier B2B Sector Event to Take Place During the Third Annual TigerDirect Tech Bash in Miami

MIAMI, July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TigerDirect , a subsidiary of Systemax Inc. SYX -0.27% , today announced that Lenovo has signed on to be the title sponsor for the company's TigerDirect Innovation: IT Conference and Expo , an exclusive business-to-business (B2B) sector symposium to be held at the Third Annual TigerDirect Tech Bash on November 7, 2014 that is anticipated to draw more than 20,000 attendees.

The TigerDirect Innovation: IT Conference and Expo, a must-attend for business and public sector IT leaders, will be held at the new Major League Baseball (MLB) Marlin's Park in Miami. The event will showcase the latest technology trends and solutions for the B2B space. Attendees will have the opportunity to directly connect with the top technology manufacturers in the industry. Vendors will be able to reveal their new products and solutions to an audience of more than 500 commercial customers.

Building upon the enormous success of the Tech Bash's previous annual consumer-facing events, TigerDirect has designed this event to meet the exclusive needs of the B2B sector, including IT-focused breakout sessions, interactive demonstrations and on-site purchasing. Leading vendors will dive into transformative industry topics, as well as provide insights into how technology can drive business, make operations more productive and help commercial providers plan for the future.

"For more than 25 years, TigerDirect has served the IT needs of the SMB and public sector markets through a dedicated team of professions offering personalized advice, and a growing suite of advanced solutions and services. The expansion of Tech Bash to include a B2B sector expo is a natural addition and reflects our commitment to serve the unique needs of this market," said Steven Leeds, Director of Corporate Marketing at TigerDirect. "TigerDirect has a longstanding relationship with Lenovo and we are excited to have them join us as the title sponsor of our premier B2B event, which will highlight the latest IT innovations, solutions and advice that empower businesses for success."

As the title sponsor, Lenovo will host three breakout sessions at TigerDirect's inaugural IT conference and expo, as well as demonstrations showcasing their premier products. Breakout session topics include: an introduction to the brand and its innovations amongst SMB and enterprise customers; the assessment of customers' computing needs to minimize mobile and desktop device confusion, with a spotlight on Lenovo's Tiny desktops; and an overview of Lenovo's Enterprise Systems Group (ESG), as well as the group's related ThinkServer and ThinkStation product portfolio.

"We are proud to sponsor this exciting event that has technology and forward moving tech solutions for businesses in the spotlight. The TigerDirect Innovation: IT Conference and Expo presents an excellent opportunity to showcase our emerging technology and product lines, and we look forward to presenting these to all businesses attending," said Rob Cato, Director, DRC Sales for Lenovo.

About Lenovo: Built on product innovation, a highly efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution, we develop, manufacture and market reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services for customers who want technology that does more — because people have a lot more to do. Our product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs, Idea-branded consumer PCs, servers, workstations and tablets.

About TigerDirect: For more than 25 years, TigerDirect.com has served the technology needs of both personal and business users, selling consumer electronics, computers, digital media technology and peripherals via business-to-business, Internet and catalog channels. Beyond its vast product offerings, TigerDirect has become a trusted partner to hundreds of thousands of SMB and public sector organizations by providing a suite of IT solutions and services. TigerDirect.com is a subsidiary of Systemax Inc.

About Systemax Inc.: Systemax Inc. ( www.systemax.com ), a Fortune 1000 company, sells industrial and computer products through a system of branded e-Commerce websites, relationship marketers and retail stores in North America and Europe. The primary brands are Global Industrial, MISCO, Inmac Wstore and TigerDirect.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tigerdirect-launches-tigerdirect-innovation-it-conference-and-expo-sponsored-by-lenovo-2014-07-16?reflink=MW_news_stmp

[revlis]

Why Lenovo's PCs are outselling Apple's Macs

The Chinese company that bought IBM’s PC business and is about to buy Motorola Mobility is on a tear.

Gartner and IDC don’t always agree, but on this they are united: Apple was overtaken in U.S. PC sales in the second quarter of 2014 by Lenovo.

There are a few caveats worth mentioning (see below), but there’s no getting around the fact that Lenovo — a Chinese company founded in Beijing in 1984 — is on a tear.

It bought IBM’s personal computer business in 2005 and by 2013 had become the world’s largest PC vendor by unit sales.
It entered the smartphone business in 2012 and is already the largest vendor of smartphones in mainland China.
It has agreed to take off Google’s GOOG 0.39% hands a storied U.S. brand – Motorola Mobility — picking up for $2.91 billion the better part of a company for which Google paid $12.5 billion just two years ago.
.

This is a deeply ironic turn of events. IBM IBM -0.22% got out of the PC business because the margins on Windows boxes were too thin. Lenovo took over IBM’s ThinkPad brand – thin margins and all — and is chewing up the U.S. PC market

I wouldn’t want to be selling Android boxes when Lenovo enters the U.S. smartphone market with the Motorola brand.

Those caveats:

Neither IDC nor Gartner counts iPads or tablets as PCs, although Gartner counts what it calls mobile PCs (but not Chromebooks) while IDC counts both netbooks and Chromebooks. Tablet sales may have slowed, but if they were counted, Apple would be in the No. 1 PC maker in the U.S., not No. 4.
PC sales in the U.S. got a bump last quarter because Microsoft in April discontinued support for Windows XP, prompting IT managers to replace millions of aging Windows boxes. The Mac got no such bump.
Gartner’s and IDC’s public estimates are “preliminary” and not verifiable. Apple releases quarterly Mac unit sales, but doesn’t break them down by country. In Q2 2013, it sold 3.75 million Macs worldwide. According to Gartner and IDC, 1.7 million of those Macs were shipped to the U.S.
.
Below: IDC and Gartner’s U.S. spreadsheets for Q2 2014.

IDC:


Click to enlarge.
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Gartner:

Screen Shot 2014-07-10 at 12.22.12 PM
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Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter at @philiped. Read his Apple AAPL 0.25% coverage at fortune.com/ped or subscribe (free!) via his RSS feed.

http://fortune.com/2014/07/10/why-lenovos-pcs-are-outselling-apples-macs/

[revlis]

Lenovo Statement on July 2014 PC Industry Rankings

According to the latest industry figures reported today (July 9, 2014) by IDC and Gartner, Lenovo is the clear global leader in PCs for the 6th straight quarter.

In reporting shipments for 2Q 2014, IDC said Lenovo achieved 19.6% global PC market share, up 1.9 points from 17.7% in Q1. Lenovo more than doubled its lead on HP, the number 2 player (from .5 points to 1.3 points). The company grew 15.1%, still the fastest among the top 5 manufacturers, even though the market declined -1.7%, according to IDC. In the US, IDC reported that Lenovo strengthened its number 3 position, climbing to 11.5%, and increasing its lead over Apple from just .1 points to 1.5 points. This performance added up to more than 15.5 million shipments (using IDC numbers) for the quarter.

Gartner reported 19.2% WW share for Lenovo this quarter (1Q 14 by the Gartner calendar) versus 16.7% share last quarter, 1.5 percentage points ahead of number 2. Gartner said Lenovo had the fastest growth among major vendors, with double digit growth in nearly every region.

The following statement can be attributed to Yang Yuanqing, chairman & CEO, Lenovo:

“Lenovo has again proven our ability to drive growth, no matter the market conditions. We are pleased to see the PC market improving, as this creates even more opportunity for Lenovo to build on our momentum. We have demonstrated we can win in PCs, and expand into other devices all while improving profitability. Today, we are number 1 in PCs, number 2 in the growing PC+Tablet market and number 3 in smart connected devices. Now we have a potent balance: a proven core PC business and new strong growth engines in mobile devices and in our enterprise business.


These results show the formula for success – a clear strategy, innovative products, operational excellence, and a diverse global team – is clearly working. They prove our ability to win in mature businesses like PCs, and drive growth in those that are shifting to maturity. This is our stronghold because we have a unique ability to balance innovation and efficiency.

The global PC industry is a more than $200b business, and the market is getting healthier. Through innovation, consolidation and operational excellence, I am confident we will remain on track to achieve our targets and deliver on our commitments for profitable growth in our core businesses.”


Key Financials (Q4/Full Year announcement -- May 21, 2014)
Record full year revenue at $38.7B, up 14% YTY;
Record full year PTI at $1,014M, up 27% YTY -- 1st time to exceed the 1B milestone;
Record full year earnings at 817M up 29% YTY.Lenovo’s fourth quarter mix of sales from its Mobile Internet and Digital Home products was 13 percent of total revenues, up from 9% 1 year ago and 6 percent 2 years ago
Lenovo posted record total device volume of 114 million, up 37 percent year over year or nearly 4 devices every second
Number one in PC w record volume: 55M, +5% YTY;12.8pt mkt premium w record 17.7% share, +2.1pts YTY
Number two in “PC+Tablet” category w record volume: 64M, +18% YTY
Number three in “Smart Connected Devices” (SCD) w record volume: 114M, +37% YTY
Fourth consecutive quarter we sold more tablets and phones (59M) than PCs (55M)
Smartphone: Record 50 million volume and share gains in China and ROW
WW shipments up 72.3% vs mkt + 36.4%. Share of 4.6% +1.0pts YTY; #4 in WW smartphone
China 44.5 million shipped +55.2% vs. mkt: +46.2% YTY; share: 11.8% up 0.7pt YTY
ROW 5.7 million shipped +11.4x vs. mkt: +31.6% YTY; share: 0.9% up 0.8pt YTY

http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1802

[revlis]

Lenovo and the National Academy Foundation Launch Lenovo Scholar Network for Next-Generation STEM Leaders

Lenovo and the National Academy Foundation Launch Lenovo Scholar Network for Next-Generation STEM Leaders

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – July 9, 2014: Lenovo today announced a new agreement with the National Academy Foundation (NAF) to bring a robust mobile app development curriculum and delivery program to NAF academies in the United States. The two organizations will provide innovative curriculum and technology to provide exposure and encourage interest among high school students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). This program, now called Lenovo Scholar Network, builds on a successful 2012 pilot where high school students from five NAF IT academies across the United States created and launched apps, some of which are now available to the public on Google Play.

Using the MIT App Inventor service developed by the Center for Mobile Learning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a joint project of the MIT Media Lab and MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Lenovo and NAF’s unique mobile app development program is catered to reaching students from urban, underrepresented communities, including students of the military. The Lenovo Scholar Network is specially designed to enable the next generation of developers and entrepreneurs from these communities, a primary constituency group of all NAF students.

As part of the program, NAF students from 10 IT academies across the United States will participate in mobile app and entrepreneurship courses intended for the project-based competition. Academies will be selected by NAF through an application process, and selected institutions will be announced in September 2014. The competition tasks students to design and develop a mobile app and business plan for taking the app to market, which measures critical college and career readiness skills.

Students who successfully meet the criteria of the Lenovo Scholars Network will receive a “Lenovo App Scholar” badge of distinction, recognizing their accomplishments in technology, business management, entrepreneurship and product development. In addition, a select number of students will be recognized as the mobile app development competition winners for most innovative app at NAF Next!, NAF’s signature annual conference.

Lenovo will provide PC and tablet devices to each of the 10 participating schools to aid the students and teachers in implementing the curriculum. The products include PC devices for student development and coding collaboration, and Lenovo tablet devices for the testing and viability of the mobile app. These Lenovo devices will also enable the students to develop their marketing plan and strategies to bring the app to market.

Lenovo, NAF and MIT plan to create a year-round recognition program that will feature launch events along with local and regional competitions, with the inaugural launch taking place today at NAF Next! 2014 in Washington, D.C. NAF Next! is a professional development conference attended by 1,300 academy leaders, district administrators and partners.

Quotes:

“Lenovo is helping students succeed in the 21st century workplace by nurturing their innate digital skills,” said Karen Ondrick, chief connector, Lenovo. “Participants in the Lenovo Scholar Network will be stimulated by a creative and challenging curriculum, and teachers will have Lenovo tools necessary to be mentors and encourage students’ interest in pursuing a career in STEM.”

“With the success of our 2012 pilot program, we saw the excitement and motivation students experience when they have access to professional development support and innovative technology,” said JD Hoye, president, NAF. “Projects like the Lenovo Scholar Network are essential to NAF’s mission and programming, and with the support of Lenovo and MIT’s faculty and technology developers, we look forward to cultivating the next generation of scientists, developers and innovators.”

“The Lenovo Scholar Network mobile app development program gives high school students a real-world learning opportunity that closely aligns with the responsibilities expected from both colleges and universities, and future employers,” said Josh Sheldon, director of strategic programs, MIT App Inventor. “By using MIT App Inventor, along with curriculum and training from Lenovo and NAF, these students will emerge as ideal candidates when they enter college and the workforce.”

http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1801

[revlis]

Intel, Samsung create Internet of Things group
Tech giants join forces to create the Open Interconnect Consortium, setting up a rivalry with a similarly minded, Linux-focused group.

The effort to reduce complications for the Internet of Things just got more complicated.

A handful of tech-industry heavyweights including Intel, Broadcom, and Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled a new nonprofit group called the Open Interconnect Consortium, or OIC, with the mission to develop standards and certification for devices involved in the Internet of Things.

The new group is being created just a few months after the nonprofit Linux Foundation announced a different consortium called AllSeen Alliance, which has a similar goal. OIC is planning on coming out with its own open-source software around the third quarter of this year, pitting its offering against AllSeen's open-source AllJoyn software -- developed by chipmaker Qualcomm -- and likely leaving it up to developers to decide which platform they would rather use.

The OIC effort may potentially provide its members with greater control over their vision for the future of the Internet of Things, as they'll be able to work outside of AllSeen's Qualcomm-based technology and instead contribute to the development of OIC's new software.

The term Internet of Things, or IOT for short, is a concept in which electronic devices and everyday objects -- such as refrigerators, thermostats, or light bulbs -- are connected to the Internet and each other through a handful of methods such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The separate consortiums are both trying to provide a common language for these devices and objects so they can more easily connect and communicate with each other.

"It's a fundamental problem that needs to be solved to have all these devices talking to each other," Vijay Nagarajan, Broadcom's director of product marketing, said about OIC's creation.

"If you don't align around some standards, it will actually slow the adoption and delay industries to participate and take advantage around these kinds of capabilities," added Doug Fisher, general manager of Intel's software and services group.

In addition to Intel, Broadcom, and Samsung, OIC's membership includes Atmel, Dell, and Wind River Systems, with more members expected to be announced in the coming months. The structure of the independent group is still being developed, Fisher said.

OIC plans to start its work focusing on home and office needs surrounding the Internet of Things, then hopes to broaden into other areas, such as automotive.

Allseen, which was established in December, has more than 50 members, with Microsoft adding its name to the list last week, joining Qualcomm, LG, Sharp, Panasonic, and others.

http://www.cnet.com/news/intel-samsung-create-internet-of-things-group/

[revlis]

Emulex 10Gb Ethernet and Gen 5 Fibre Channel Adapters Selected by Lenovo to Enhance ThinkServer Family

Latest Generation Ethernet and Converged Network Adapters and Gen 5 Fibre Channel Adapters Enable High Performance Connectivity for Compute-Intensive Workloads

COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 08, 2014--
Emulex Corporation (NYSE:ELX), a leader in network connectivity, monitoring and management, today announced it is delivering high performance 10Gb Ethernet (10GbE) and Gen 5 (16Gb) Fibre Channel (FC) connectivity for Lenovo ThinkServer tower and rack servers with the new OneConnect(R) OCe14000 family of 10GbE Ethernet Network and Converged Network Adapters (CNAs) and LightPulse(R) LPe16000 Gen 5 FC Host Bus Adapters (HBAs).

"This announcement represents our first Ethernet design win with Lenovo, and provides the infrastructure required for the demands of today's data centers," said Shaun Walsh, senior vice president of marketing, Emulex. "Our latest generation of Ethernet and Gen 5 Fibre Channel adapters are purpose-built to meet the performance capabilities and workload demands of Lenovo servers. Emulex OCe14000 adapters deliver increased throughput and reduce power consumption and operational expenditures, while addressing next generation workloads such as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), Hadoop and server virtualization."

Emulex OneConnect 10GbE adapters and LightPulse Gen 5 FC HBAs offer flexible connectivity and the highest performance, and can be controlled, configured and managed from a single console using Emulex OneCommand(R) Manager, which consolidates all I/O on a single driver to reduce complexity and ensure stability.

Emulex OneConnect 10GbE Ethernet and Converged Network Adapters enable:

-- Industry-leading Server Virtualization Density and Performance: Emulex
OCe14000 adapters are the only connectivity solution to deliver
consistent line rate throughput, up to 1.5 million I/O operations per
second (IOPS) for block storage and hardware offloads that deliver
superior CPU and power efficiency, resulting in the ability to increase
the number of virtual machines (VMs) per server for Red Hat Linux 6.4,
Windows Server 2012 R2 or VMware ESXi 5.5 environments.

-- Reduced Data Center Operational Expenditures by Lowering Server Power
Consumption: Emulex hardware offload technology can reduce power
consumption by up to 50 watts for a typical 2 socket rack optimized
server 1, which lowers the server power costs by up to 20 percent (based
on average power consumption of 250 watts per a server).

-- Optimized Application Performance with Low-latency Connectivity for
Virtualization: Emulex has implemented RDMA over Converged Ethernet
(RoCE), delivering high performance I/O with reduced latency to
applications such as Microsoft SQL Server and targeted network functions
such as VM mobility using Windows Server SMB Direct and Linux NFS
protocols.

-- A 4x Improvement in Packet Performance vs. Previous Generation Adapters:
Emulex OCe14000 adapters deliver a 4x performance increase in small
packet network performance1, vs. previous generation adapters, which is
critical for transaction-heavy and clustered applications such as video
content delivery, Web-scale applications and messaging applications.

-- Secure and Scalable Cloud Deployments Using Software-defined Networking
and Open Technology: Emulex OCe14000 adapters are designed to work with
open and industry standard hardware, network virtualization and software
environments, including OpenStack-based management and orchestration
software, emerging network virtualization using Network Virtualization
Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE) (used in Microsoft Hyper-V) and
Network Virtualization and Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) (used in VMware
NSX). Emulex is also providing 10/40GbE CNAs for the OpenCompute project
supporting open and standards-based Web-scale data centers.
Emulex LightPulse Gen 5 FC HBAs enable:

-- Superior Gen 5 Fibre Channel Connectivity: Emulex Gen 5 FC HBAs deliver
more than 1.2 million I/O operations per second (IOPS) on a single port2,
the highest level of Fibre Channel adapter performance available today,
and up to 6x greater IOPS per port than the previous generation, enabling
better storage performance for cloud and storage intensive applications.
Power efficiency is also improved by delivering up to 4x better IOPS per
watt of power2.

-- Higher Throughput and Low Latency: Emulex Gen 5 FC HBAs provide twice the
throughput and up to 75 percent lower latency when compared to current
8GFC adapters without sacrificing CPU efficiency2.

-- Increased I/O Bandwidth with PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 Support: Emulex Gen 5
FC HBAs support PCIe 3.0, which provides a faster I/O bus, more PCIe
lanes and increased I/O bandwidth, enabling Emulex Gen 5 FC technology to
provide optimal performance for applications, such as virtualization and
database management systems, by matching the performance capabilities of
server platforms based on the new Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 V2 product
family.

-- Improved Quality of Service with Emulex Gen 5 Flash Services: Gen 5 Flash
Services includes ExpressLane(TM), which provides Quality of Service
(QoS) capabilities for flash/solid state disk (SSD)-based storage and
Emulex CrossLink(TM), which provides in-band message passing between
server nodes, delivering optimized performance using lossless,
standards-based FC protocols.
"Our goal is to address the real-world IT needs of our customers' business-critical workloads with enterprise-class, open industry-standard solutions that provide the ideal balance of performance and features, and ease-of-use and integration with our enterprise product offerings," said Darrel Ward, vice president and general manager, Enterprise Product Group, Lenovo. "We are pleased to partner together to provide high performance Fibre Channel and 10GbE adapters that offer integrated ease-of-use with Lenovo ThinkServer tower and rack servers to our customers."

Emulex OneConnect 10GbE Ethernet and Converged Network Adapters and LightPulse Gen 5 FC HBAs are now available for Lenovo ThinkServer TD340 tower, RD340/RD440 and RD540/RD640 rack servers. Visit the Lenovo web site for ordering information.

1. Based on Emulex Implementers Lab blog

2. Demartek Emulex LPe16000B 16Gb Fibre Channel HBA Evaluation, October 2012

Tweet This: Emulex #10GbE and Gen 5 #FibreChannel Connectivity Enhance @Lenovo #ThinkServer family: http://ow.ly/yHqZ5

Follow Emulex on Twitter.

About Emulex

Emulex, a leader in network connectivity, monitoring and management, provides hardware and software solutions for global networks that support enterprise, cloud, government and telecommunications. Emulex's products enable unrivaled end-to-end application visibility, optimization and acceleration. The Company's I/O connectivity offerings, including its line of ultra high-performance Ethernet and Fibre Channel-based connectivity products, have been designed into server and storage solutions from leading OEMs, including Cisco, Dell, EMC, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, Huawei, IBM, NetApp and Oracle, and can be found in the data centers of nearly all of the Fortune 1000. Emulex's monitoring and management solutions, including its portfolio of network visibility and recording products, provide organizations with complete network performance management at speeds up to 100Gb Ethernet. Emulex is headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. For more information about Emulex (NYSE:ELX) please visit http://www.Emulex.com.

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140708-906288.html

[revlis]

Lenovo IdeaPad S20-30 Windows laptop surfaces on retail sites

Lenovo has been busy rolling out a plethora of new devices, not the least of which is a new budget Windows machine, the IdeaPad S20-30 (not to be confused with its old S20). The laptop was spotted by the folks at Mobile Geeks, with it being made available through online retailers in Germany -- initially, at least.

The Lenovo IdeaPad S20-30 features an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and an anti-glare coating -- not bad, given the screen size, but average for notebooks in this range. Under the hood is an Intel Bay Trail Celeron N2830 dual-core processor.

Accompanying the Intel processor is 4GB of RAM, as well as options for either 320GB or 500GB of internal storage. The ports are fairly standard, as well, including two USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0, and HDMI. Connectivity is comprised of Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11n WiFi.

It isn't clear when the IdeaPad S20 will be coming to the States, but when it does, it looks like the price will be at or around $365 USD (the European price is 269 Euros). Until then, hit up our Lenovo tag portal for recent reviews and news.

http://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-ideapad-s20-30-windows-laptop-surfaces-on-retail-sites-08336654/

[revlis]

Samsung's Smartphones Falter, Profits Fall, Against Chinese Rivals
Comment Now Follow Comments

Samsung Electronics is facing stiff Chinese competition at a special juncture – right after China’s President Xi Jinping was in Seoul promoting China-Korea commercial relations in tandem with Korea’s President Park Geun-hye.

The world’s smart phone leader is discovering that at least three Chinese manufacturers, Lenovo Group Ltd, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and Xiaomi Corp. are giving its Galaxy handsets a run for the money with products that are cheaper and some say better.

Yes, President Xi was in Seoul last week talking up prospects for a China-Korea free trade agreement that he said would “push bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a higher and newer level, which will better benefit the people of the two countries.” In fact, China and South Korea hope to conclude the FTA by the end of the year.

No, that kind of rapport is not necessarily good news for Samsung Electronics, which earns about 16% of Korea’s gross domestic product. Already facing rising competition from China as the Korean won increases in value, making exports all the more costly, Korea’s biggest manufacturer saw its operating profit decline by nearly 25 percent for the second quarter of this year.

The Samsung headquarters
Samsung headquarters (Wikipedia)

The numbers may not seem all that alarming to most people since Samsung still makes huge money, but the profit of $7.11 billion, 7.2 trillion won, for the quarter was nowhere near the 9.53 trillion won posted for the second quarter of last year. Considering that the profit for the first quarter was 8.49 trillion won, the impression was that of ongoing steady decline. Not since the third quarter of 2012 has the profit been less than 8 trillion won.

In fact, the dip caught Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap, the South Korean news agency, somewhat by surprise. Infomax had forecast the second-quarter profit would not fall below the 8-trillion-won milestone.

Yonhap quoted analyst Lee Min-hee at I’Min Investment & Securities Co. as attributing the sagging profits to the somewhat disappointing response to the new Galaxy S5 since its introduction in March just as the second quarter was about to begin. Samsung shipped approximately 17 million units of Galaxy S5 in the second quarter as opposed to 20 million units of Galaxy S4 in its first three months, according to Yonhap.

Most discomfiting for Samsung, “Users’ loyalty to the brand has fallen significantly,” Lee told Yonhap. Moreover, for the third quarter of this year Galaxy S5 is likely to sell only 6 million units compared with 16 million units of the Galaxy S4 sold “over the similar period.”

Samsung still ranks overall ahead of the combined total of all five of its main Chinese rivals with a 26% market share compared with their 20%. For Samsung, however, that’s a stunning drop from its previous share of a minimum of 30%.

The declining numbers for Samsung are sure to play into the thinking of South Korean negotiators as they enter talks on an FTA with China. Two-way trade totaled nearly $275 billion last year, eclipsing South Korea’s trade with the U.S. and Japan put together, but can South Korean manufacturers substantially increase their exports to China?

That’s a burning question for Samsung Electronics, which now counts on China for 20% of its revenue, far more than it earns on the South Korean market.

In fact, Samsung sales in China climbed to 40.1 trillion won last year, nearly twice its sales three years ago. Samsung sales in South Korea last year were 26.5 trillion won as opposed to 22.8 trillion in 2011.

With the won now hovering at slightly more than 1,000 to one dollar, up more than 5% in the third quarter , Samsung faces rising competition everywhere. Apple AAPL -0.35% should be releasing a new generation iPhone while Chinese manufacturers undercut Samsung products with discount products.

President Park, like President Xi, talked up the advantages but not the downside of Chinese companies outsmarting Samsung and others by underselling their products.

“The Chinese domestic market’s development will be a good change for companies of the two countries,” said Park. Both “should expand breaking into each other’s domestic markets and establish the stable trade environment through the South Korea-China FTA.”

Xi and Park addressed a forum of several hundred business people from both their countries against the background of denunciations of Japan’s role in World War II. They both decried Japan’s “brutal” and “barbarous” conduct in the war at a time when Korea-Japanese relations are at their lowest ebb in years.

It was as though South Korea and China need to maintain a united front against another regional rival that challenges both of them in bitter territorial disputes. South Korea is hesitating, however, on accepting Xi’s suggestion that together they celebrate the defeat of Japan in World War II.


As for Samsung Electronics, it’s predicting the third quarter will be better as Samsung markets fourth-generation products. Much will depend on the China market and the value of the won against the dollar while South Korea and China also open direct trading between the won and China’s renminbi – another dividend of the Park-Xi summit.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/donaldkirk/2014/07/08/samsungs-smartphones-stumble-profits-down-against-chinese-rivals/

[revlis]

Lenovo Will Reportedly Flood The Market With 60 Smartphones This Year

While Lenovo isn’t exactly a company known for their smartphones, they certainly have been giving it their best shot. In fact Lenovo’s smartphone efforts will most likely increase now that they have announced that they will be buying Motorola Mobility from Google. However how much exactly does Lenovo plan on stepping up their efforts?
Well according to a report from DigiTimes, it seems that the Chinese company plans on flooding the smartphone market this year with as many as 60 devices, and apparently that’s not counting the smartphones that might come from Motorola once they have officially acquired it! The reports also claim that the company also plans on selling as many as 80 million smartphones this year, with the majority of their sales being in China.
Now 60 smartphones is a lot of phones which means that on average, Lenovo would have to release 5 different phones a month, assuming that they started on this path earlier this year. Half the models are reported to feature LTE connectivity, so we can only assume the remainder will only support 3G, or 2G at the very least.
We can’t be sure what kind of photos Lenovo has up their sleeves, although so far we’ve seen efforts like the Lenovo K920 which is a high-end smartphone with a QHD display, and more affordable options like the A805e, but what do you guys think? Will Lenovo succeed simply by flooding the market?

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/07/lenovo-will-reportedly-flood-the-market-with-60-smartphones-this-year/

[stocktrademan]

Lenovo Group Ltd. [$LNVGY] due diligence

bullish

$LNVGY

DD Notes ~ http://www.ddnotesmaker.com/LNVGY

##### recent news/filings ~ source: finance.yahoo.com

Mon, 30 Jun 2014 10:00:09 GMT ~ Lenovo to launch more than 60 smartphones in 2014, DigiTimes reports
read full: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lenovo-launch-more-60-smartphones-100009977.html
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Fri, 27 Jun 2014 20:21:05 GMT ~ The real reason Google’s introducing Android One
read full: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/real-reason-google-introducing-android-202105681.html
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Fri, 27 Jun 2014 13:00:16 GMT ~ Why personal computer stability helps Micron’s DRAM business
read full: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-personal-computer-stability-helps-130016944.html
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Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:00:00 GMT ~ Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Review: Beats MacBook Air - On Paper
read full: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/06/25/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-review-beats-macbook-air-on-paper/?partner=yahootix
*********************************************************

Tue, 24 Jun 2014 21:14:25 GMT ~ Can Lenovo Bully Samsung and Apple With Motorola?
[at Motley Fool] - Lenovo seeks to expand its smartphone business into new mature and developing markets to better position the company against market leaders such as Apple and Samsung.
read full: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/06/24/can-lenovo-bully-samsung-and-apple-with-motorola.aspx?source=eogyholnk0000001
*********************************************************

##### chart ~ source: stockcharts.com



##### chart ~ source: eoddata.com



##### company info ~ source: otcmarkets.com

Link: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LNVGY/company-info
Ticker: $LNVGY
OTC Market Place: OTC Pink Current
CIK code: 0000932477
Company name: Lenovo Group Ltd.
Company website: http://www.lenovo.com
Incorporated In: Hong Kong

##### extra dd links

Edgar filings: http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000932477&owner=exclude&count=40
Latest filings: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LNVGY/filings
Latest financials: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LNVGY/financials
Latest news: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LNVGY/news - http://finance.yahoo.com/q/h?s=LNVGY+Headlines

Major holdings: http://data.cnbc.com/quotes/LNVGY/tab/8.1
Insider transactions (1): http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=LNVGY+Insider+Transactions
Insider transactions (2): http://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/LNVGY.htm
Insider transactions (3): http://www.insidercow.com/history/company.jsp?company=LNVGY

RegSho: http://www.regsho.com/tools/symbol_stats.php?sym=LNVGY&search=search

DTCC: http://search2.dtcc.com/?q=Lenovo+Group+Ltd.&x=10&y=8&sp_p=all&sp_f=ISO-8859-1
Spoke company information: http://www.spoke.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Lenovo+Group+Ltd.
Corporation WIKI: http://www.corporationwiki.com/search/results?term=Lenovo+Group+Ltd.&x=0&y=0
WHOIS: http://whois.domaintools.com/http://www.lenovo.com
Alexa: http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/http://www.lenovo.com#
Corporate website internet archive: http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.lenovo.com

Short Sales: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LNVGY/short-sales
Insider Disclosure: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LNVGY/insider-transactions
Research Reports: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/LNVGY/research
Historical Prices: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=LNVGY+Historical+Prices
Basic Tech. Analysis: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ta?s=LNVGY+Basic+Tech.+Analysis
Company Profile: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=LNVGY+Profile
Key Statistics: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=LNVGY+Key+Statistics
Industry: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/in?s=LNVGY+Industry
Insider Roster: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ir?s=LNVGY+Insider+Roster
Income Statement: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=LNVGY
Balance Sheet: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=LNVGY
Cash Flow: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/cf?s=LNVGY+Cash+Flow&annual
Market Watch: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/LNVGY
Bloomberg: http://www.bloomberg.com/quote/LNVGY:US
Morningstar: http://quotes.morningstar.com/stock/s?t=LNVGY
Bussinessweek: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=LNVGY
Barchart: http://www.barchart.com/quotes/stocks/LNVGY
OTC Short Report: http://otcshortreport.com/index.php?index=LNVGY
Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/markets/stocks/LNVGY/?wa=0

http://www.pennystocktweets.com/stocks/profile/LNVGY

##### last known share structure ~ source: otcmarkets.com

Market Value: $13,710,173,201 a/o Jun 27, 2014
Shares Outstanding: 10,250,980,000 a/o Jul 20, 2011
Float: Not Available
Authorized Shares: Not Available
Par Value: No Par Value

##### business description ~ source: otcmarkets.com

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina.Less >>

DD Notes ~ http://www.ddnotesmaker.com/LNVGY
otc

[revlis]

Lenovo Windows Phone Device Confirmed By AdDuplex

According to a report earlier this year, word on the street was that Lenovo was looking to get into the Windows Phone game with a new smartphone of their own. This was apparently “confirmed” by Lenovo themselves and if you wanted more proof, just to be safe, a recent tweet by AdDuplex has revealed that a new Windows Phone from Lenovo is indeed in the works.
The tweet reads, “AdDuplex stats teaser: we’ve seen new Windows Phones from Lenovo, Longcheer, JSR, Micromax, K-Touch, Prestigio, BLU, Nokia and more!” Unfortunately the tweet did not mention anything about the specs of the upcoming Lenovo Windows Phone handset, so we guess we will just have to wait and see what Lenovo has in store for us.
However based on previous rumors, it has been suggested that the Lenovo Windows Phone handset will be a mid-ranged device. It will pack a 4.5-5-inch display and will be powered by either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 or 600 processor, and could cost around $420.
There’s really no telling when Lenovo will make this official, but we have to wonder if perhaps one day we might be able to see a Motorola Windows Phone handset, once the sale of Motorola Mobility to Lenovo has been made official? What do you guys think?

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/06/lenovo-windows-phone-device-confirmed-by-adduplex/

[revlis]

Lenovo’s Glass rival just hit the patent office

Lenovo has been working on its own Glass-style wearable, patenting a head-mounted display with twin transparent screens that could capture audio and video. Billed somewhat vaguely as an "Electronic device and sound capturing method" the unnamed wearable uses bond-conduction to record audio and what look to be a set of Lumus displays to give feedback to the user, allowing for true augmented reality rather than just the floating notifications Google's Glass offers.

Bone conduction for audio isn't new on wearables; in fact, Glass itself uses a bone conduction speaker for more discrete notifications. As Google implemented it, a vibrating pad makes contact with the bone structure behind the wearer's ear, sending sound directly into the inner-ear.

In Lenovo's case, however, the technology is being flipped around to capture audio rather than create it. For instance, the company's patent filing suggests, while a movie was being played on the integrated displays, the bond conduction microphone could react to playback commands from the viewer.

Lenovo is tinkering with different points of contact, such as behind the ears as per Glass, or with a tongue-like protrusion that makes contact between the forehead and the bridge of the eyewear. Both including the processing power in-device, like Glass, or in a remote box - either a tethered smartphone or a dedicated controller as per Epson's Moverio BT-200 we reviewed this week - are being explored.

image001 (3)
The patent document is also interesting because, while not mentioned by name, it appears to be using eyepiece technology from Lumus. Better known for supplying head-up display components for fighter-jet pilots, Lumus has also been pushing its consumer-focused products, with a DK-40 reference design for its interpretation of digital eyewear shown off earlier in the year.

Lenovo's diagrams show the distinctively angled Lumus OE-31 eyepieces we played with back in early 2012. They had a 640 x 360 resolution at the time, though the DK-40 - based on the same technology - had stepped that up to VGA.

lumus_oe-31_hands-on_sg_10
"Regardless if a company is using our technology or a competitive technology, we will not comment on any of their efforts unless they have officially announced a product," Ari Grobman, director of business development at Lumus, told SlashGear today.

The filing by Lenovo doesn't make much of what such a wearable could be used for, beyond watching video, listening to audio, and holding video calls, but it's certainly not beyond the realms of imagination to picture a full head-mounted computer (which, ironically, Lenovo-acquired IBM was visualizing all the way back in 2000, as the following commercial shows).


With Lenovo acquiring Motorola there would be a clear path to developing a production model with a recognizable mobility brand, though it's unclear what platform the headset would end up running. Of course, patents also get filed all the time with no intention of spawning a real device, but with wearable technologies billed as the next big market beyond smartphones and tablets, it's hard to imagine Lenovo letting the grass grow under itself.

http://www.slashgear.com/lenovos-glass-rival-just-hit-the-patent-office-24334936/

[revlis]

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Review: Beats MacBook Air - On Paper

Price: ranges from $1,250

Availability: Now

Welcome to the latest (and possibly greatest) attempt by PC makers to unseat the MacBook Air. The ‘ThinkPad X1 Carbon’ 2014 edition is the third generation of Lenovo’s top of the range ultraportable laptop and, on paper at least, it takes Apple’s laptop apart. But what about in practice?

Design – Rugged Yet Elegant
ThinkPad’s have never been known for their looks, but the X1 Carbon is a knock-out. Granted this opinion requires you to accept Lenovo’s respect for the Henry Ford-inspired “any colour as long as it’s black” design, but few laptops are as elegant or tough as the new X1.

Its elegance partly stems from the dimensions. At 13.03-inches long, 8.94-inches wide and 0.79-inches thick (tapering to 0.55-inches) it has virtually the same wafer thin form factor as the Air. It is also lighter at 2.8 lbs (1.27 Kg) compared to the Air’s 2.96 lbs (1.35 Kg).

2014-06-19 17.38.34

On top of this the X1 is as tough as old boots. It carries the same rugged matt finish as many ThinkPad’s before it and Lenovo boasts of it passing “US-grade Military tests” including dust, vibration, heat, cold, altitude, water, and humidity.

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Don’t confuse this with a truly rugged laptop such as the brick-like Panasonic ToughBook range, but in my month with the X1 it had no problem withstanding drops and splashes that would have finished many ultraportables off.

2014-06-19 17.34.17

Display – Better Than HD Resolution
And yet where the X1 Carbon most catches the eye is its display.

The most remarkable aspect is Lenovo has managed to cram a 14-inch touchscreen display inside the footprint of a 13-inch machine and still keep it as portable as a MacBook Air. Furthermore it is some display with a 2560 x 1440 native resolution (also available in 1600 x 900 pixels) which easily bests the ageing 1440 x 900 in the Air – at least until Apple upgrades it to a Retina Display.

Admittedly the Samsung Activ Book Pro sports an even higher quality screen (3200 x 1800 pixels) but that is almost more of a hindrance than a help with Windows (more of later).

2014-06-19 17.40.45

Specifications – Socks It To MacBook Air
Lenovo has also given the X1 a wide array of spec options. Processors scale up to an Intel Core i7-4600U as well as potentially 8GB RAM, but graphics raise concern using just Intel’s HD Graphics 4400 chip which is a potential weak point.

That aside the rest of the X1 again excels on paper 8.6 hours of battery life won’t top the 13 hours offered by the 13-inch Air, but it still promises a lot. Especially since Lenovo claims the X1 can recover 80% of its battery with just a one hour charge.

Storage options also scale up to a 512GB SSD (double the Air’s 256GB top option) and there’s 802.11ac WiFi backed up by HDMI, two USB 3.0 ports, a mini DisplayPort and mini Ethernet plus Bluetooth 4.0. The ThinkPad’s famous touchpad/trackpoint combo also remains alongside a backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanner.

2014-06-19 17.43.50

Party Tricks – Adaptive Keys & Gesture Control
Next Lenovo pulls out the party tricks. The row of Function keys is ‘adaptive’ allowing them to automatically switch between F keys, common commands (volume/brightness control, cut, paste, etc) and common browser keys (back, refresh, new tab and more).

The 1.3 megapixel webcam also has motion sensors enabling configurable gesture support in programs like PowerPoint for hands-free navigation.

2014-06-19 17.44.23

Performance
So how does this combination of looks, power and innovation / gimmickry stand up? Unfortunately it is a mixed bag.

The Good

Build Quality – I’ve touched upon this already, but the X1 is wonderfully constructed. In fact I’d go as far as saying it is the best built Ultrabook on the market. The 180 degree swivel hinge is rock solid with no hint of movement, there’s no flex in the keyboard, it doesn’t pick up scratches or finger prints easily (though some oil shows up) and it is splash proof.

2014-06-19 17.37.29

Display – While pixels aren’t the only measure of panel quality, the X1 has a first rate screen. Being IPS (the same technology used in the iPhone range, Nexus 5 and others) it is incredibly sharp with wide viewing angles and deep blacks making it ideal for watching video, prosumer photography editing and presentations. It also has a matt finish which is very welcome and there’s virtually no reflection which even makes it useable outdoors in bright sunlight.

Processor – My review unit came with a top of the range Intel Core i7-4600U CPU and it breezes through tasks. Granted this is no desktop killer but in combination with its SSD and 8GB RAM, Windows 8 will boot in roughly 10 seconds and you’ll breeze through day-to-day tasks – even with the circa 30 tabs open I usually have in a web browser.

Touchpad / Trackpad – The continued inclusion of the Trackpad will delight long time ThinkPad fans and Lenovo has also come up with a great Touchpad for the X1. It is responsive, accurate and there is a good distinction between left and right button presses. One frustration is pressing the touchpad is noisy and Lenovo would do well to reduce both the range of travel and the intensity of its spring back, but overall it is remains one of the best trackpads on a Windows laptop.

2014-06-19 17.36.42

Noise – Lenovo boasts of “re-engineered patented fan blades” and the X1 is one of the coolest and quietest laptops I’ve ever used. Even under significant strain noise from the fan is low and it is silent for the vast majority of use. If noisy laptops bother you then you’ll love the X1.

Keyboard – Lenovo and ThinkPad in particular has long been a gold standard for typing and this remains true here. In fact the action of the X1's keyboard puts many desktop keyboards to shame and it is a genuine pleasure to type on – excluding one big caveat (more below).



2014-06-19 17.35.18

The Bad

Keyboard Layout – Having aced the keyboard Lenovo has also thrown a big spanner in the works by attempting to be too clever. This has seen it ditch the Caps Lock key for Home/End buttons and it has pushed the backspace/delete keys together. As go to buttons this leads to a lot of frustration and while in my month with the X1 I did adapt, it came only at the expense of damaging my desktop typing.

2014-06-19 17.42.52

Adaptive Keys – The concept may be clever, but in reality I found the adaptive keys to be frustrating. Primarily this is because I use a lot of keyboard shortcuts though it often chose the wrong layout for me in different applications and even then misses some obvious layouts such as media controls. You can lock the selection but then I found myself accidentally activating the touch sensitive buttons with the slightest brush – something that would never happen with standard buttons.

Graphics – While the X1's processor is more than up to the task, Intel’s HD 4400 graphics chip is no powerhouse. Editing large photos is noticeably sluggish and gaming is not on the menu. HD video playback is not a problem, but there is a good reason why the current MacBook Air uses an HD 5000 GPU and Lenovo lags behind here.

battery

Battery Life – This is a biggie: the X1 doesn’t last long. Despite claims of a nine hour battery life my month with the X1 found it rarely, if ever, lasting longer than 5 hours. During heavy usage this fell to little over 4 hours. Compared to the 12-13 hours a 13-inch MacBook Air gets this is woeful and we’ve found most Ultrabooks capable of topping the 6 hour mark. Whether it is the bigger screen, touchscreen or something else to blame this will be a deal breaker for many. Lenovo does promote its ‘Rapid Charge’ functionality which restores 80% of the battery in just an hour’s charging but that’s not much good if you’re on the road.

Gesture Control – much as Lenovo likes to claim this is a useful feature we found it nothing more than a gimmick. Responsiveness to gestures is erratic and everything can be done with either the touchpad or keyboard faster.

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Windows 8 – This isn’t a cheap stab at Microsoft as since Windows 8.1 Update 1 the OS scales well to higher resolutions, but the problem is many third party apps don’t. Headliners include the Chrome web browser, Spotify, Photoshop and Dropbox (its menu UI above) which are either shrunk to eye wateringly small size or overblown and blocky. Microsoft needs to find a way to address this in Windows 9 or it will hurt the take-up of high resolution displays.

Value – Given the build quality, durability and high end components (graphics aside) no-one would expect the X1 to be cheap but even then Lenovo’s asking price is jaw dropping.

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With an entry level price of $1249 it is $250 more than the entry level 13-inch MacBook Air and with top spec it passes $2,400 – far more than Samsung’s most expensive Activ Book Plus. In fact this makes the X1 more expensive than both MacBook Pro 13-inch and 15-inch models with Retina Displays. And if you want additional ports you’ll need to pay $179 for the ‘One Link’ dock which is an optional extra.

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What has caused such a weighty price tag is up for debate. My concern is unhelpful elements like the custom keyboard layout, adaptive function keys and gesture control play a significant part and the laptop would actually be better off without them. $999 to $1,499 is where this laptop should be positioned.



2014-06-19 17.40.03

Verdict
There’s much to love about the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, but there is the distinct feeling Lenovo has gilded the lily. Having virtually perfected the recipe for ThinkPads the company has tried to be clever with the keyboard and webcam and they are arguably backwards steps. Meanwhile core elements like the battery life have seen little improvement which the asking price is astronomical.


In some ways Lenovo has made the best laptop on the market, but what frustrates is in chasing gimmicks the company also seems to have lost focus on more fundamental aspects. This makes the X1 is more of a sideways step from its predecessors than a real step forward.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/06/25/lenovo-thinkpad-x1-carbon-review-beats-macbook-air-on-paper/

[revlis]

Southern Kern Unified School District Partners with Absolute Software to Protect Students and Secure Laptops


VANCOUVER, Jun 24, 2014 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- Absolute Computrace Deployed on all Laptops in 1:1 Program

Absolute® Software Corporation CA:ABT -0.73% , the industry standard for persistent endpoint security and management solutions for computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, today announced that Southern Kern Unified School District has selected Absolute Software for their 1:1 laptop program. This will allow the school district to provide a secure learning environment and safer campus for students and employees while safeguarding their investment in 1,300 laptops.

Absolute Safe Schools is an integrated program that works in conjunction with Absolute Computrace®. Overseen by the Absolute Investigations team, Absolute Safe Schools can help keep students, staff, and school environments safe. All students and staff will complete the Absolute Safe Schools program where they will learn how to avoid becoming easy targets for criminals as well as best practices for the care and security of their laptops.

Computrace has been installed and activated on all laptops in the Southern Kern Unified School District 1:1 program. The District chose Lenovo ThinkPad laptops, which have Absolute persistence technology embedded into the firmware at the factory. This provides the Southern Kern IT team with a persistent connection so they can track and secure all devices regardless of user or location. If the Computrace agent is removed (accidentally or on purpose) it will simply reinstall. And if a laptop is stolen, the Absolute Investigations team will work with local law enforcement to get the device back.

The Southern Kern Unified School District launched its 1:1 laptop program to enhance the learning experience and help achieve academic excellence. All students in grades six, seven, and eight have received a laptop and been trained on the safe use of these devices. The district chose Lenovo ThinkPad laptops because they are ruggedized and designed specifically for students. Through the laptops, students and teachers have access to a variety of applications including digital textbooks, online research, video tutorials, simulations, and adaptive math and reading practice.

"Using laptops and digital curriculum provides many benefits, including anytime, anywhere learning, increased student motivation and helping students master the Common Core State Standards," said Dan Wexler, Director of Technology at Southern Kern Unified School District.

"Our staff is incredibly happy to see students so excited to learn. Our parents strongly support the new digital curriculum and are equally excited to see their students' education flourishing as a result," said Jeffrey Weinstein, Chief Administrative Officer at Southern Kern Unified School District.

"I commend Southern Kern Unified School District for focusing on the safety of their students and employees," said Errol Olsen, Interim CEO at Absolute Software. "With Absolute persistence technology, Computrace, and Absolute Safe Schools, students and staff are safer and the District's investment in Lenovo laptops is secure."

Learn more about how Southern Kern Unified School District has secured their laptop investment and protected students.

About Southern Kern Unified School District Southern Kern Unified School District is located in Rosamond, CA. It has five schools and 3,200 students. SKUSD is the first school district in Kern County to implement a 1:1 laptop program. In August 2014, the 1:1 laptop program and digital curriculum will be expanded to Rosamond High School.

About Absolute Software Absolute Software Corporation CA:ABT -0.73% is the industry standard in persistent endpoint security and management for computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. The Company, a leader in device security and management tracking for 20 years, has over 30,000 commercial customers worldwide. Absolute's solutions - Computrace, Absolute Manage®, Absolute Service, and Absolute LoJack® - provide organizations with actionable intelligence to prove compliance, securely manage BYOD, and deliver comprehensive visibility and control over all of their devices and data. Absolute is positioned on two Gartner, Inc. Magic Quadrants - the Magic Quadrant for Client Management Tools and the Magic Quadrant for Mobile Device Management Software. Absolute is one of only four vendors to be recognized on both Magic Quadrants based on providing customers with the ability to secure and manage many different types of devices using a single solution. Absolute persistence technology is embedded in the firmware of computers, netbooks, tablets and smartphones by global leaders, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Motion, Panasonic, Samsung, and Toshiba, and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others, including Apple. For more information about Absolute Software, visit www.absolute.com .

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the expected performance, functionality and availability of our services and products, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and general market conditions. In light of the many risks and uncertainties you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

©2014 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation. LoJack is a registered trademark of LoJack Corporation, used under license by Absolute Software Corporation. LoJack Corporation is not responsible for any content herein. U.S. patents No. 5,715,174, No. 5,764,892, No. 5,802,280, No. 5,896,497, No. 6,087,937, No. 6,244,758, No. 6,269,392, No. 6,300,863, No. 6,507,914, No. 7,818,557, No. 7,818,803, No. 7,945,709, No. 8,062,380, No. 8,234,359, No. 8,241,369, No. 8,307,055, No. 8,332,953, No. 8,346,234, No. 8,362,901, No. 8,418,226, No. 8,419,806, No. 8,441,348, No. 8,510,825, No. 8,556,991, No. 8,566,961, No. 8,606,971, No. 8,625,799, No. 8,669,870, No. 8,701,013, No. 8,712,432, No. 8,717,172 and No. 8,734,529. Canadian patents No. 2,211,735, No. 2,284,806, No. 2,205,370, No. 2,771,208 and No. 2,733,222. U.K. patents No. EP0793823, No. GB2298302, and No. GB2338101. German patent No. 69512534. Australian patent No. 699045. Japanese patents No. 4067035, No. 5220924 and No. 5363305. Korean patent No. 10-1372986. Mexican patents No. 297,406 and No. 306,287. Russian patent No. 2,460,220 and 2,506,704. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this news release.

SOURCE Absolute Software Corporation

To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2014/24/c8493.html

SOURCE: Absolute Software Corporation

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/southern-kern-unified-school-district-partners-with-absolute-software-to-protect-students-and-secure-laptops-2014-06-24

[revlis]

Bluetooth(R) pioneer CSR sees strong Bluetooth Smart growth in Internet of Things Applications

Innovative Bluetooth Smart solutions adopted for a range of applications from smart lighting to wearable devices

CAMBRIDGE, England & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 2014--
Technology pioneer CSR plc (LSE: CSR; NASDAQ: CSRE) continues to benefit from accelerating growth and demand in the area of Bluetooth(R) Smart, that has resulted in a strong year-on-year increase in its Bluetooth Smart business. The company has seen significant growth in its pipeline following the introduction of a number of new solutions earlier this year. These design wins are in areas including Human Interface Devices, remote controls, lighting and wearables.

The most recent customer wins include several unannounced deals with Tier One customers in addition to wins with three Tier One OEMs, Incipio, Lenovo and Tanita, adopting the CSR1010(TM) and CSR1011(TM). CSR has partnered with Lenovo to make its new S9 and S52 Smart TVs the world's first TVs with fully featured Bluetooth Smart remote controls; and Incipio has expanded its line of low power solutions by adopting the CSR1011 solution for the offGRID Smart(TM) Portable Backup Batteries. The disruptive CSRmesh(TM) technology has also been selected by Samsung for their smart lighting solutions.

"CSR has an unequalled heritage in Bluetooth and has been instrumental in the progression of the technology, and helped to write the Bluetooth Smart standard to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving consumer electronics market," said Joep van Beurden, CEO at CSR. "Our team continues to combine disruptive thinking, a hunger for innovation and over a decade of experience in Bluetooth development to create powerful Bluetooth Smart platforms that are enabling the growth of the Internet of Things. Our solutions simplify complex challenges and help customers develop breakthrough wireless products quickly, which is why we continue to see strong uptake from customers."

Significant milestones

-- June 2014 -- CSR1010 and CSR1011

-- CSR sees another streak of customer wins for its CSR1010 and
CSR1011 Bluetooth Smart products. Recent customer traction for the
CSR1011 includes a new smart remote control by Lenovo, an expanded
line of smart portable backup batteries from Incipio, and the
CSR1010 was chosen by Tanita for their new smart weight scales

-- February 2014 - CSRmesh

-- A disruptive Bluetooth Smart technology which enables an almost
unlimited number of Bluetooth Smart enabled devices to be
networked together and controlled directly from a single
smartphone, tablet or PC

-- Samsung along with two other Tier One manufacturers have already
selected the technology and will ramp mass production of their
smart lighting solutions based on the CSRmesh solution this year

-- CSR has seen a high level of interest from a wide range of
manufacturers and will soon be releasing a development kit to
ensure developers can get to market quickly

-- February 2014 - ARM mbed platform

-- By joining the ARM mbed platform, an industry venture designed to
nurture the growth of the Internet of Things, CSR is providing the
mbed community with access to its Bluetooth Smart solutions,
making it easier for them to integrate into existing
microcontroller projects
-- December 2013 - CSR1012(TM)

-- Designed to specifically meet the needs of developers looking to
create low-power wearable accessories, the solution provides a
smaller form factor package but critically still uses standard PCB
technology, allowing developers to get high-volume products to
market quickly and cost effectively

-- At CES, the solution was demonstrated in a range of connected
jewellery designed to show that wearable technology can be both
fashionable and functional

-- CSR continues to see customer traction for its CSR1010 and CSR1011
Bluetooth Smart products, particularly for Human Interface Devices
and remote controls. Recent CSR1011 wins include a tablet keyboard
by a Tier One PC OEM and a set-top box remote control by another
Tier One company. It has also recently been chosen for a remote
control by a major Asian manufacturer. CSR1010 was recently chosen
by Fasttrack for use in a luggage tracking system to be trialled
with Air France, KLM and other airlines

-- December 2013 -- CSR uEnergy Starter Development Kit

-- A low-cost development kit, priced at USD $99, designed to provide
a complete environment for developers looking to create their
first Bluetooth Smart products and get them to market rapidly with
a low initial investment

-- In April, the solution won the EE Times and EDN 2014 UBM Tech ACE
Awards in the 'Ultimate Products -- Development Kits' category

-- CSR has also launched a developer forum and wiki, designed to
better support the Bluetooth Smart developer community

-- October 2013 - CSR1010(TM) auto

-- CSR brought the first AEC-Q100 qualified single-mode Bluetooth
Smart embedded device for automotive applications to market.
CSR1010 auto is seeing good traction for a range of applications
including keyless entry and pressure sensors
"We continue to see the potential for explosive Bluetooth Smart growth over the coming quarters and years," concluded van Beurden. "This is being driven in part by the opportunity to use a Bluetooth Smart Ready smartphone, or tablet, as a gateway to the cloud, for Internet of Things applications. We believe this technology, which is natively supported by all major operating systems and is already available in the majority of smartphones and tablets from major manufacturers, will result in the proliferation of an ecosystem of peripherals around such devices."

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140624-903355.html

[revlis]

Lenovo X1 Carbon Review (2014)

The Lenovo X1 Carbon 2014 follows the step of the previous X1 Carbon (2012) and the original Thinkpad X1. It is thinner, gets much better battery life and incorporates a high-DPI display. Its Carbon construction allows it to be the only 14” laptop that weighs between 2.85Lbs and 3Lbs depending on the version you pick. Nearly all other competitors in this weight range have a smaller 13.3” display, so this is an important difference.
Designed to be effective and robust, the X1 Carbon is supposed to be a low-maintenance / high-productivity laptop, but is that really the case in the real world? I took a unit to many trade shows across a few continents to see how it was to use the Lenovo X1 Carbon 2014 in the real world. Here’s the complete review that lay out my findings.lenovo x1 carbon 2014 openflat 06 640x426
X1 Carbon Configuration as tested

Display size: 14”
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (WQHD), 220 PPI
RAM: 8GB
Integrated cellular modem: Yes
OS: Windows 8 x64
Processor: Intel Core i5-4200U 1.6GHz – 2.30GHz
Storage: 128GB SSD
Dimensions: 13 x 8.9 x 0.74”
Weight: 3lbs (from 2.83lbs, depending on versions)
Price: $1479 as tested
Possible competitors
Samsung ATIV Book 9+ (4GB)
ACER Aspire S S7-392 (8GB), $1282
Sony Vaio Duo 13 (4GB) — 1499
Dell XPS 13 (4GB), $1282
Lenovo Yoga Pro 2
What’s new?

The Lenovo X1 Carbon comes with a number of new or interesting features that you may want to pay close attention to:
The Adaptive keyboard makes the design slick and the keyboard more readable and convenient, Lenovo has removed the physical Function buttons at the top row and replaced them with a touch-sensitive strip called Adaptive keyboard. It is a programmable electronic screen that can be changed depending on the context, to fit the most likely used buttons. For instance, while playing movies, it will display media buttons, and while web-surfing, it will display browser navigation buttons. More on that in a bit.
The Carbon construction, as its name indicates, the carbon construction allows it to be the lightest 14” laptop, and its external surface treatment makes it very durable and low-maintenance.
Rapid-charging can replenish the battery from 0 to 80% battery charge much faster than most other laptops. If you can’t hang around a power outlet, this is a big deal.
Context

Before we dig deeper into the review, let me tell you how I use my computers: first, I typically use a very powerful desktop machine when at the office. By far, this is the one that I use the most. However, I do travel quite a bit, so when I’m out I absolutely need a laptop that can get the job done. This doesn’t mean that it needs to be “super-fast”, but rather that it needs to make me as productive as possible: great display, keyboard and trackpad are in the forefront, then storage speed is critical.
If I go for more than one week, I need a machine that is web-development capable, meaning the bigger the screen, the better. For a few days or the occasional local press briefings, a smaller system works great.
Industrial Design

lenovo x1 carbon 2014 back 19 640x351
Lenovo X1 Carbon Photo Gallery
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 back 19 99x64
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 simtray 18 99x64
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 bottom 17 99x64
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 hinge 16 99x64
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 right 15 99x64
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 right cooling 14 99x64
The design of the Lenovo X1 Carbon means business, and from the Spartan look to the rugged design, I think that it conveys robustness. It’s not the laptop that you will buy to look pretty at the local cafe. Instead, it is a laptop that is extremely durable and low-maintenance.
I have used it in several continents, and traveled with it quite a bit in a bag full of other gadgets and devices where scratches can happen very easily. In the past, I had to buy plastic cases to protect the aluminum surface of other laptops. With the X1 Carbon, I didn’t even bother and so far, the “soft” paint looks very much like new. In fact the photos in this review have been shot after a couple of months of intense use.
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 hinge 16 640x426
As you handle the X1 Carbon, you will feel that is it very rigid. You won’t be able to twist it, but as you put pressure, there is a little bit of motion happening, so in a sense, it’s not 100% as rigid as the MacBook or the Samsung Series 9. That said, it is well within range and its skin won’t scratch as easily as its metallic competitors.
The display hinges look rock-solid, and let you tilt the display all the way to 180 degrees to lay it flat if you need to share images, or use it collectively on a table. It’s pretty neat to write with your fingers too.
Mil-Specs Tested
We’re not in the habit of test-torturing gadgets, but some of the specs caught our attention. While this computer did not pass ALL the Mil-Specs tests, Lenovo says that the X1 Carbon has passed a number of them:
Humidity from 91% to 98%
-20 degrees Celsius for 72 hours
30 to 60 degrees Celsius for 24 hrs (7 cycles)
-20 to +60 degrees Celsius for 3 cycles of 2 hours
Mineral dust exposure for 6-hour cycles
Operation at 15,000 feet
Vibrations and various mechanical shocks
In addition to those tests, the X1 Carbon has a keyboard and body that are designed to survive a 2 FL Oz liquid spill directly on it. This works because the water is drained away from the keyboard and expelled. This does NOT make it waterproof! I suspect that water poured into the ports would be bad as well. Don’t try it.
Ports
The X1 Carbon comes with one USB and one Peripheral (mainly used for Ethernet) port on the right side. The left side features the Power and Dock connector, a full-size HDMI port, a Display Port, another USB connector and finally the 3.5mm audio jack.
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 left ports 13 640x398
Lenovo OneLink Dock
If the X1 Carbon is your main computer, you may want to check out the Lenovo OneLink Dock. I have seen it a couple of times, but I haven’t used it in the real world. The main thing that I like is that there is one connector for Power and ports, which is absolutely great. It is very small too, so that’s a good change from other docks I have seen over the years.
3G Connectivity built-in
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 simtray 18 640x343
The SIM tray is easily accessible in the back
Certain models also have a SIM tray to add 3G/4G connectivity built-in. In general, you can always tether your laptop to a cell phone, but if you have the budget for it, having a built-in connection always works better, especially when the wireless situation is a little spotty. Anyone who has been to a busy event like CES Press Day can tell you that the internal modems tend to work better than a tether.
In general, most people can get by without it, but if you want the best/most productive cellular connection possible, this is the way to go. The setup was super-simple, and upon adding the SIM card, I was up and running.
Keyboard (excellent)

lenovo x1 carbon 2014 keys 08 640x367Lenovo is well-known for the quality of their keyboards. We’ve said it for the previous X1, and we’re happy to report that the X1 Carbon 2014 edition also gets a great keyboard with large keys, a chiclet layout and ample space in-between keys to avoid typos of all kinds. If you look closely, you will see that the keys have a slight curvature, which help limit accidental slips.
In the dark, the keyboard is backlit and you can pick a few settings for how intense you want the lighting to be. Typically, I use this option when I’m in a totally dark environment (plane, bed…) versus a dimly lit environment (living room while watching TV).
I did notice that the feel of the keyboard is a bit different from the original Lenovo X1, and from the Thinkpad Yoga Pro (which has the absolute best keyboard @ Lenovo, btw).
Adaptive keyboard: hot or not?
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 adaptivekeys close 01 640x379
The upper row has been replaced by the Adaptive Keyboard, a virtual row of programmable keys
The Adaptive keyboard idea sounds great on paper, but in reality, you have to be mindful of your own use case. Basically, this is great if you do NOT regularly use the Function keys and want a more “visually clean” keyboard.
If you do use the F-keys regularly because you are a developer or because your apps do require them, the adaptive keyboard can become a source of frustration because of the inherent lack of tactile response and the lag between the tap and the action. I do my share of development on the laptop, and I would not recommend it if you are a heavy F-key user.
Keyboard wrap-up
Overall, the Lenovo X1 Carbon keyboard remains one of the best in the industry, although Lenovo’s own Thinkpad Yoga has the best feel of all. That said, my own “best keyboard chart” would look like this:
Lenovo Thinkpad Pro
Lenovo X1 Carbon
MacBook Pro
After years of keyboard consistency, Lenovo is now heading into new territories and trying new keyboard styles with the Yoga Pro and other laptops. Also, 360-degree foldables have a different set of issues to solve since their keyboards can also become a resting area. Although Lenovo offers good keyboard experience across the board, you have to be more mindful that the user experience of the Yoga 2 Pro keyboard and the X1 Carbon are radically different.
Display (mixed, good++)

The X1 Carbon 2014 comes with several display options. If you’re looking for something conventional, the 1600×900 resolution is a great start. However, if you want to jump on the recent high DPI trend that was started on tablets and phones, we have tested this 2560 x 1440 (WQHD) version of the X1 Carbon.
"THE HIGH RESOLUTION MAKES THINGS MUCH MORE READABLE" This particular screen comes with a matte finish, which is great when working in very bright areas like outdoors or near a window. However, it doesn’t look as sharp and the colors won’t “pop” as much. It uses an IPS panel, so the view angles and colors are generally very good. The maximum brightness of this display is around 300 Nit at the brightest point.
The high resolution is great and makes things much more readable. If you want to learn more about high DPI, I recommend reading my PPI article that explains what the Pixel Per Inch metric is about and how it can make your experience better.
If you want the sharpest display, the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 or the Samsung Series 9+ are effectively the best options that I have tested thus far. They are both impressive, and the Yoga Pro 2 is unbelievably affordable for this level of quality.
Brightness distribution
One of the things that make a screen great is the consistency of color rendering and brightness across the surface of the display. On TVs the best way to achieve this is to make the light come from the back, which makes the TV thicker.
"BRIGHTNESS DISTRIBUTION IS NOT WHAT I HAD HOPED" On thin displays, the light tends to come from the sides and it’s hard to maintain the brightness as you get further away from the light source. OLED displays don’t have this challenge because each pixel emits its own light.
In this test, I’m displaying a white image at a brightness of 300 Nit brightness which will show the brightness differences between 9 different zones on the screen (a regular 3×3 grid). 300 is nice and very bright, which makes the differences easier to spot.
From that data, I’m able to visualize the absolute variations, and show you where the brightness fluctuates on the screen. The Lenovo X1 Carbon’s numbers confirm my visual suspicions: the brightness is not as well distributed as I had hoped:
lenovo x1 carbon display brightness distribution
I think that a 30% difference from the top and bottom is more than what I would like to see. At the same time, the overall perceived experience remains surprisingly OK, so it’s not as bad as the numbers would suggest, but this is something that should be improved in the future, and graphic designers may have a problem with something like this.
Is it really possible to have a much better brightness distribution on a laptop? It is! The Surface Pro 3 and the Yoga Pro 2 are two examples of better display brightness distribution. Here’s what their data looks like:
lenovo yoga 2 display brightness distribution
surface 3 pro display brightness distribution
Black levels
In the same way, we can measure the black levels by displaying a black image at 150 Nit, which is the typical brightness at which I watch my movies. The lower the value, the more “black” the image is. Ideally, it should be zero, but no LCD can achieve that kind of black levels, so “black” is always “gray” — how dark of a gray is the real question.
lenovo x1 carbon display black levels A
Image preservation at different angles
Here’s a photo that will show you how brightness and color rendering behaves under different view angles. This is something that is much easier to show than describe, so we’ll be adding these in reviews whenever possible.
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 screen all direction
Display, wrap up (“good+”)
Overall, I would say that the Lenovo X1 Carbon 2014 display is quite good, but comes with mixed results. Most of its goodness comes from the high DPI resolution, which makes thing very sharp and brings great reading comfort.
At the same time, I wish that the light distribution was better. I don’t think that most users will be very bothered by it, but the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 is cheaper and has a much more consistent display (although it is not as bright). I would like to see the Yoga 2 Pro screen on the Lenovo X1 Carbon.
Touchpad

lenovo x1 carbon 2014 trackpad 07 640x426The touchpad offers plenty of room to swipe around. I’m not completely sure about what it’s made of, but it is much smoother than it looks and is just as good as a glass trackpad in my opinion. When you press on it, the trackpad has a very distinct mechanical “click” that many people will like very much. It is not too stiff and feels good on day one.
The only piece of feedback that I would give to Lenovo is that the click travel length is probably too long. It is nearly 1mm deep, which is a bit shorter than a keyboard key travel, but for a trackpad, that’s quite a bit. In any case, it doesn’t prevent me from using it well, but I feel like half of that distance with the same “clicky” feel would be perfect. The Yoga 2 Pro takes the opposite approach and features a stiff and short touchpad click.
Performance

lenovo x1 carbon 2014 pcmark7lenovo x1 carbon 2014 geekbench multilenovo x1 carbon 2014 3dmark11
Performance-wise, the X1 Carbon is well within range of other laptops in its hardware class, which is not surprising. It is a good productivity system which gets good scores in a test like PCMark 7. I’ve seen quite a few score variations while doing some research, and I think that this mostly happens because PC vendors use different brands and types of SSD and memory depending on their suppliers. Although the difference tends to be small, it is possible that they induce some noticeable differences within the same model.
That said, with a 3DMark 11 score of nearly 900, I wouldn’t consider it to be “Gaming” capable, unless you only play casual games, or older games. If you try to load something like Battlefield 3, the frame rate can dip below 25FPS, which many people would not consider to be a good gaming experience.
Battery Life

Our 60mn 1080p MP4 local video test took away 12% of the battery life*, which brings us to a theoretical 8.3 hrs of video playback under those conditions. This is pretty close to the 9hrs that Lenovo claims for the laptop.
I usually like the video test because it’s a pretty decent proxy for general usage: the screen is ON and quite readable, and the CPU works, but isn’t overwhelmed since the decompression is not done in hardware. Also, there is some disk activity, so as a whole you may see this type of battery life for many of your regular productivity or entertainment tasks.
*The test was done with the display set to 150 Nit, WiFi ON, no cellular connectivity, BT OFF.
Rapid charge
lenovo x1 carbon 2014 charge timeIn theory, the Lenovo X1 Carbon can go from 0% to 80% charge in 1 hour. We’ve put this to the test using the small 20V – 2.25A Lenovo charger (model ADLX45NDC2A). In our case, it took 1 hour and 10 minutes to go from 7% to 87%. Keep in mind that going from 0% to 7% is faster than going from 80% to 87%, so all in all, this is close enough.
This can make a big difference if you have one hour before boarding a plane or heading to an important meeting/event. In fact, we would love it if all laptops could do that.
Conclusion (very good)

lenovo x1 carbon 2014 openflat side 05 640x384The Lenovo X1 Carbon is a great computer for those who seek a laptop that is very durable, productive and comfortable at the same time. I have used it for months during trade shows in many parts of the world, and this computer still looks brand new without visible scratches on the soft skin. I haven’t spilled any liquid on it, but even if I did, it should have survived just fine.
The X1 Carbon proves that toughness does not mean “bulky”. In fact, this is the lightest 14” computer that I know of, and this is a very good thing when I need a larger monitor for development because each additional inch provide precious additional visual comfort.
With an even better display, the X1 would have been nearly perfect. In fact, the display will cost the X1 a possible “excellent” rating, but I still give it a “Very good” rating. Fortunately for Lenovo, a close competitor is the Yoga Pro 2, and if you absolutely want a metal build, the Samsung Series 9+ may be a great alternative.
I hope that this review gave you a good overview of what it is to use the X1 Carbon in the real world. If there’s something specific that you want to know, please leave a comment and I will address it as soon as possible.
Overall product rating: 8/10

http://www.ubergizmo.com/reviews/lenovo-x1-carbon-review-2014/

[revlis]

Hands-on with the Lenovo N20p touchscreen Chromebook

The Lenovo N20 is an 11.6 inch Chrome OS laptop that’ll sell for $279 and up when it goes on sale this summer (probably by August). Cheap, portable Chromebooks are a dime a dozen these days… but Lenovo’s got another trick up its sleeve.

The company will also launch the Lenovo N20p Chromebook with a touchscreen display that folds back 300 degrees for use in presentation or kiosk mode. It’ll be available by August for $329 and up.

lenovo n20p_09

Lenovo also has a ThinkPad line of Chrome OS (and Windows) laptops with rugged cases and optional Yoga designs which allow you to push the screen back 360 degrees until the laptop becomes a notebook.

The N20 series notebooks aren’t as rugged or flexible, but they’re cheaper.

Lenovo introduced these laptops in May, and I recently got a chance to play with one for a few minutes. The notebook feels pretty light, looks pretty thin, and should get up to 8 hours of battery life, making it a decent choice for a portable notebook… as long as you don’t need a lot of storage space or the ability to run Windows apps.

The entry-level models will have just 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and they run Google’s browser-based operating system.

lenovo n20p_04

While Chrome OS is designed first and foremost for laptop and desktop computers, Google’s been making it more and more touch friendly over the past year or two, and I had no problem tapping the app launcher, minimize button, or other on-screen elements with my fingers.

Unfortunately the Lenovo N20p has limited viewing angles. While the 1366 x 768 pixel display looks decent when viewed from the front, from certain angles the colors wash out and disappear until it you’re practically staring at a black screen. That’s kind of disappointing for a laptop which has a screen that rotates to 300 degrees… although I suppose the wide range of rotation means it shouldn’t be hard to find an angle that works for you.

Other features include an SD card reader, 2 USB ports, 802.11ac WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0.

http://liliputing.com/2014/06/hands-lenovo-n20p-touchscreen-chromebook.html

[revlis]

Perion Partners with Lenovo to Create Lenovo Browser Guard


TEL AVIV, Israel & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2014--
Perion (NASDAQ: PERI) (TASE: PERI) announced today that it has partnered with Lenovo to build a new program called Lenovo Browser Guard that will be pre-installed on select Lenovo laptops, PCs and tablets beginning in the second quarter of 2014.

Perion designed and developed Lenovo Browser Guard according to Lenovo's specifications.

"We are extremely proud that our technology has been selected by Lenovo to help power its first native browser protection tool," said Amir Nahmias, Vice President of Business Partnerships, Perion Codefuel. "Our solution equips Lenovo with the ability to provide its customers enhanced protection and real value. We see this product launch as a validation of our technology and we look forward to partnering with Lenovo as we roll out Lenovo Browser Guard across additional devices."

"Lenovo Browser Guard, powered by Perion technology, provides customers a worry free solution by doing two important things. First it avoids attempts from 3d party software to change the default browser and search settings. Second it blocks attempts to install products that harm device performance," said David Cree, Director, Software and Content Services, Lenovo. "This solution gives customers another layer of protection as they browse and shop online."

About Perion Network Ltd.

Perion powers innovation. Perion is a global performance-based media and Internet company, providing online publishers and app developers advanced technology and a variety of intelligent, data-driven solutions to monetize their application or content and expand their reach to larger audiences, based on our own experience as an app developer. Our leading software monetization platform, Perion Codefuel, empowers digital businesses to optimize installs, analyze data and maximize revenue. Our app promotion platform, Perion Lightspeed, enables developers to make wise decisions on where to spend advertising budgets to produce the highest yield and the most visibility. The Perion team brings decades of experience, operating and investing in digitally-enabled businesses, and we continue to innovate and create value for the app ecosystem. More information about Perion may be found at www.perion.com. Follow Perion on Twitter @perionnetwork.

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140618-906871.html

[revlis]

Lenovo Works With NVIDIA, Magma and Hue to Develop Game-Changing Visualization Technology Solution for Exploration Geophysics
New High-Performance Computing Solution Renders Massive Amounts of Visualization Data in Seconds, Transforming Oil & Gas Exploration Software Applications

AMSTERDAM, Jun 17, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today, at the 76th EAGE Conference & Exhibition 2014, Lenovo (booth #3236) announced its collaboration with NVIDIA, Magma and Hue to develop a new visualization technology solution for exploration geophysics.

The combined solution leverages Lenovo ThinkStation D30 workstations, NVIDIA® Tesla® K40 GPU accelerators and Magma GPU expansion technology to power Hue’s visualization technology for exploration and production application development, providing the ability to render massive amounts of geophysical visualization data in seconds.

Exploration geophysics is the key to oil and natural gas discovery, but the industry continues to be hindered by the inability to process the increasing amounts of seismic data required to render and visualize complex earth models. While innovative companies like Hue develop technology that promises to exponentially improve geophysicists’ discovery capabilities, underperforming computing technology continues to slow these applications, extending exploration projects by hours, days and even weeks.

For the first time, this new, combined visualization solution brings high-performance computing (HPC) to the Hue software development toolkit, minimizing delays and transforming the way geophysicists process seismic data. Delivering a 64-bit optimized environment, the solution analyzes terabytes and even petabytes of data in seconds, enabling geophysicists to execute complex algorithms quickly in a seamless workflow.

“In exploration, data normally arrives late, and decision schedules often shift forward, squeezing the time available for analysis,” said Dr. Ron Masters, Geoscience advisor at Headwave. “New opportunities always require bigger data volumes, more sophisticated imaging and new interpretation concepts. Our need for speed has never been greater.”

The foundation of the combined solution is the Lenovo ThinkStation D30 workstation, the highest performing, most reliable and most user-friendly workstation technology available. It includes multiple NVIDIA Tesla K40 GPU accelerators connected via Magma’s ExpressBox 3600 GPU expansion system to deliver HPC-class computing capabilities. Hue’s innovative HueSpace software toolkit uses NVIDIA Tesla GPUs to combine lightning-fast computation with state-of-the-art domain-oriented, multi-dimensional visualization and intelligent handling of exploration and production data in a single, easy-to-use toolkit.

Lenovo ThinkStation, Hue and Magma will be demonstrating the combined solution at the 76th Annual EAGE Conference & Exhibition 2014 in booth #3236. To schedule a demonstration, please contact Mark Van Hook, Capstrat for Lenovo ThinkStation at [e-mail] or by calling 919.745.3689.

Quotes:

“Our Lenovo ThinkStation D30 workstations are the best performing workstations on the market, the kind needed by geophysicists to meet their most pressing computing challenges,” said Chris McCoy, vertical solutions, energy, oil and gas, Lenovo. “With this effort, we have partnered with the best technology providers in the industry to deliver a solution enabling new workflows that can provide valuable new insights in exploration geophysics.”

“We’ve built our business on creating innovative software applications that allow geophysicists to execute incredibly complex algorithms in a fraction of the time of other applications,” said Marius Storm-Olsen, VP Technology, Strategic Alliances, Hue. “We’re proud to have taken part in this effort to create a solution that promises to have a major impact in the oil and gas industry in the years to come.”

“High-performance computing solutions are critical in the oil and gas industry, and we are excited at the opportunity to drive adoption where it counts – in the field,” said Jim Medeiros, strategic business development, Magma. “Adding our GPU expansion technology to workstation solutions effectively brings the kind of high-performance computing found in the data center to the field. It’s an extraordinary accomplishment, and we are excited to see the industry’s reaction to what we’ve done.”

“Accelerating interactive 3D rendering applications with HueSpace and CUDA GPUs will allow geoscientists to manipulate huge data volumes, while performing complex calculations on the fly as they roam though the data with intelligent probes,” said Ty McKercher, principal solutions architect at NVIDIA. “This technology lays the foundation for greater confidence in exploration projects, enabling geoscientists to identify prospects that were previously hidden, and ultimately discover more hydrocarbon reserves.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lenovo-works-with-nvidia-magma-and-hue-to-develop-game-changing-visualization-technology-solution-for-exploration-geophysics-2014-06-17

[revlis]

Lenovo Selects Talend Big Data Integration to Help Make Smart, Fast Business Decisions
Talend Enterprise Big Data dramatically increases agility and performance while reducing costs of integration

LOS ALTOS, Calif., Jun 10, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Talend , the global big data integration software leader, today announced that Lenovo has chosen Talend Enterprise Big Data to help understand its customers by acquiring datasets from a variety of touch points – such as third parties, APIs, and social networking feeds – and transforming that data into a visual picture of the end-to-end customer journey.

As the world’s #1 PC maker and #4 smartphone company, Lenovo wanted to streamline the integration process and the delivery of data reports used by its marketing organization to analyze the effectiveness of its campaigns. Talend’s open source architecture and user-based licensing model gave Lenovo the flexibility it needed to accommodate its known requirements and still provide room for growth.

Using Talend Enterprise Big Data, Lenovo performs big data integration with almost 300 processes running concurrently and expects these numbers to continue growing. Of the many other benefits achieved since Lenovo began using Talend, cost savings stands out as a measurable advantage, saving approximately $140,000 in initial migration costs alone. In addition, Talend has helped Lenovo improve reporting performance and cut certain process times by a matter of hours to minutes.

“We have to continually increase our velocity in acquiring data, and the ease of use of the Talend platform allows us to deliver on those requests,” said Marc Gallman, manager of Data Architecture, Lenovo.

These increases in efficiency ultimately result in faster, smarter decisions that positively impact the company’s marketing strategies – both globally and regionally. With more rapid and frequent access to data, Lenovo can swiftly make adjustments to campaigns.

“Organizations are increasingly data-rich but insight-poor, fueled in large part by the inability to integrate information from legacy systems, social media, and the shift of many organizational systems to the cloud,” said Mike Sheridan, Executive Vice President of Sales, Talend. “We are proud that Lenovo chose Talend’s solutions, and we look forward to helping them gain more rapid and frequent access to their data for better decision making.”

About Talend

Talend’s integration solutions allow data-driven organizations to gain instant value from all their data. Through native support of modern big data platforms, Talend takes the complexity out of integration efforts and equips IT departments to be more responsive to the demands of the business, at a predictable cost. Based on open source technologies, Talend’s scalable, future-proof solutions address all existing and emerging requirements of integration.

More than 4,000 enterprise customers worldwide rely on Talend’s solutions and services. Privately-held and dual-headquartered in Los Altos, CA and Suresnes, France, the company has offices in North America, Europe and Asia, along with a global network of technical and services partners. For more information, please visit www.talend.com and follow us on Twitter: @Talend .

SOURCE: Talend

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lenovo-selects-talend-big-data-integration-to-help-make-smart-fast-business-decisions-2014-06-10

[revlis]

Lenovo Serves Up New Budget-Friendly ThinkServer Rack for Small-to-Medium Sized Businesses

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 10, 2014--
Lenovo (SEHK:0992) (Pink Sheets:LNVGY) today announced the ThinkServer RS140, a powerful yet affordable entry-level single-processor 1U rack server ideal for small-to-medium sized businesses (SMB) and remote office deployments. Available with a range of processor choices including the latest next-generation Intel(R) Xeon(R) E3-1200 v3 series processors, customizable options, and Intel(R) AMT(TM) 9.0 for remote manageability, this highly versatile rack server can accommodate a variety of workloads, including distributed enterprise and datacenter edge, as well as standalone applications such as retail, collaboration, and IT infrastructure.

The ThinkServer RS140 offers a generous collection of standard features and expansion options essential for flexible deployments in diverse environments. The RS140 supports the entire line of Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3 series processors with integrated graphic processing, perfect for data center edge systems serving streaming media, games, and other graphic intensive web content. Optionally, for additional cost savings while delivering server features and reliability, the RS140 can be configured with Intel Core(TM) i3, Pentium(R), and Celeron(R) family desktop processors. The RS140 supports up to 32GB of RAM and 8TB of internal storage, and comes equipped with one full-height, half-length x8 Gen 3 PCIe slot for optional RAID protection or network expansion. At only 16.2 inches deep, the ThinkServer RS140 can be deployed in space-constrained environments including wiring closets and two post racks.

The RS140 supports open network management standards and can be managed in a multi-vendor environment for simplified deployment and maintenance. Ideal for SMB deployments, the RS140 features Intel's AMT 9.0 remote network management tool for simple, easy-to-use server maintenance. Intel AMT provides secure, worry-free remote access for diagnostics, maintenance and remote monitoring. Intel's AMT technology is certified with popular MSP ecosystem management consoles enabling MSPs to manage end-user networks remotely and more cost effectively.

Convenient and Flexible Enterprise Service Offerings

Lenovo has a suite of service offerings that help customers accurately budget for the level of protection required to keep their businesses up and running. Optional upgraded services are available to help maximize uptime and productivity. Priority Level Support provides access to priority call routing, escalation management and basic software support.

Quotes:

"The Lenovo Enterprise Group is aggressively expanding its server offerings in the rack segment by adding a new 1P rack to our portfolio," said Darrel Ward, vice president, Enterprise Product Group, Lenovo. "The new ThinkServer RS140 1P rack offers a remarkable combination of SMB-friendly features and options, at an attractive, budget-friendly price point, that our customers have been looking for."

Pricing and Availability(1)

The ThinkServer RS140 is available now and starts at $549.

For more information, visit ThinkServer RS140. For the latest Lenovo ThinkServer news, follow us on Twitter at @ThinkServer. For the latest Lenovo news, follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

About Lenovo

Lenovo (SEHK:0992) (Pink Sheets:LNVGY) is a US$34 billion personal technology company -- the largest PC maker in the world and an emerging PC Plus leader -- serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo's business is built on product innovation, a highly efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the Company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo, a global Fortune 500 company, has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.

(1) Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice and is tied to specific terms and conditions. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice.
http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140610-905914.html

[revlis]

China-U.S. cyber spat risks corporate casualties

he author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.

China’s security spat with the United States risks corporate casualties on both sides. The People’s Republic has responded to U.S. allegations of cyber spying by targeting American tech companies. A continuing dispute could lead to blocked deals in the United States and lost sales in China. Though companies can try to ease concerns, it’s hard for them to escape a political escalation.

U.S. companies operating in China are already suffering a backlash. The government is scrutinising the use of IBM servers by state-owned banks, while state-run media has denounced American tech groups. Though Chinese buyers may resist government pressure to switch to local suppliers, the likes of IBM and Cisco have already reported falling revenue from the mainland.

Chinese companies eager to expand overseas also have little to gain. Lenovo’s planned acquisitions of IBM’s low-end server business and the Motorola handset business both require approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The Chinese PC and smartphone maker must convince a panel of 16 U.S. agencies it doesn’t pose a security risk. The longer the process drags on, the bigger the risk that Lenovo gets dragged into the autumn U.S. mid-term election.

Other companies have taken special steps to appease CFIUS. Alcatel of France agreed to set up a special subsidiary to handle U.S. government contracts as part of its takeover of Lucent. Japan’s SoftBank reserved a seat on the board of Sprint, its U.S. mobile phone operator, for a director to oversee national security concerns. Lenovo has won clearance from CFIUS for previous deals, including its acquisition of IBM’s PC business back in 2005. However, proposed remedies can undermine the financial logic for doing the deals.

American companies in China could try to follow Huawei’s example. The Chinese telecom equipment group has worked to ease British concerns by running a UK-based security centre to vet its products. Alternatively, companies could offer the Chinese government the opportunity to conduct regular security audits, or reserve a seat on the board of their local subsidiary for an approved Chinese citizen. However, that assumes the Chinese government is open to being persuaded at all.

Chinese companies like Huawei are already effectively shut out of the U.S. market. An escalating dispute over cyber security could deny both sides access to vital economies of scale. That’s not in either nation’s interest.

http://blogs.reuters.com/breakingviews/2014/06/09/china-u-s-cyber-spat-risks-corporate-casualties/

[revlis]

Lenovo Receives Prestigious Manufacturing Leadership Award

Customer Value Leadership Award recognizes Lenovo’s achievements and pivotal role in
U.S. Computer Manufacturing


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – June 6, 2014:Lenovo, the largest PC company in the world, received top honors last night at the 2014 Manufacturing Leadership Summit (MLS) during their Tenth Annual Manufacturing Leadership Awards gala in Palm Beach, Florida. A cornerstone event of the Summit, the gala presentation honors companies and individuals that are shaping the future of global manufacturing.

Lenovo took the spotlight with a Manufacturing Leadership Award win in Customer Value Leadership category, recognizing Lenovo’s role in pioneering the return of U.S. computer manufacturing – most notably through its U.S. Manufacturing and Fulfillment Center in Whitsett, North Carolina.

This particular award applauds new products and services provided to customers that enhance customer experience and build a closer relationship with them. The award recognition came nearly a year to the day from the official ribbon cutting of the Lenovo manufacturing site in Whitsett, North Carolina. The Whitsett manufacturing line helps maximize product delivery speed, enabling Lenovo to more efficiently and strategically address fast-moving customer requirements. The ability to customize and add valuable services to orders later in the purchase cycle is a significant benefit to U.S. customers.

Scott Gardner, vice president of Lenovo’s Americas Group Global Supply Chain, attended the gala and accepted the award on behalf of Lenovo.

“Lenovo is honored to be recognized for our leadership in bringing computer manufacturing back to the United States,” said Gardner. “It’s rewarding to watch our new U.S. manufacturing site in North Carolina, which opened over a year ago, provide great benefits to our customers in the North America region. On behalf of Lenovo, I thank the Manufacturing Leadership Council for this honor.”

The three-day Summit, themed "The Next Industrial Revolution: What Will Your Company Look Like in 2030?” brought together thought leaders and cross-functional leadership teams from all sectors of manufacturing to explore transformative new technological innovations.

To learn more about the Manufacturing Leadership Summit visit their website at http://www.mlsummit.com/ .

http://news.lenovo.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1797

[revlis]

Lenovo, IBM Said to Seek Extension in U.S. Review of Server Deal

Lenovo Group Ltd. (992) and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM:US) have sought more time for a U.S. national-security review of Lenovo’s planned purchase of IBM’s low-end server unit, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The companies resubmitted the transaction for review by an interagency panel called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., said the person, who asked not to be named because the process is confidential. The extended review gives regulators more time to scrutinize the proposed transaction.

Extending the process gives Lenovo, based in Beijing, and IBM additional time to win approval from the U.S. Companies can pull their requests and refile them during or at the end of the standard 75-day inquiry by CFIUS, which examines acquisitions of U.S. companies by foreign investors to determine the effects on national security. The companies remain on track to complete the $2.3 billion deal by the end of the year, according to Lenovo.

Restarting the national-security review by CFIUS may indicate the companies are working toward an agreement with the committee to address security concerns raised by government agencies, said Timothy Keeler, a lawyer with Mayer Brown LLP in Washington.

“On big, sophisticated deals involving potentially sensitive sectors, it’s not uncommon,” he said about refiling with CFIUS. “Any China-related investment is going to be sensitive from a CFIUS standpoint. It doesn’t matter what the sector is.”

The Lenovo review comes amid heightened tension in the U.S. over Chinese spying. The U.S. on May 19 accused five Chinese military officials of stealing trade secrets and other information from American companies.

Chinese Banks

China, meanwhile, is reviewing whether Chinese banks’ reliance on high-end servers from IBM compromises the nation’s financial security, Bloomberg News reported last week. Government agencies, including the People’s Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance, are asking banks to remove the IBM servers and replace them with a local brand as part of a trial program, people familiar with the matter said.

The stakes are high for IBM and Lenovo. The deal is a key piece of IBM Chief Executive Officer Ginni Rometty’s plan to stage a comeback amid sweeping changes in the technology industry. Customers are increasingly storing data and software on cloud-computing networks, rather than on site, limiting their use of servers and mainframes and the IBM consultants needed to install and maintain them.

“Both IBM and Lenovo support the CFIUS process and have been through it successfully before, and we look forward to a positive outcome,” Armonk, New York-based IBM said in a statement.

‘Not Strategic’

IBM and Lenovo were successful in getting CFIUS approval in 2005 for an earlier deal, in which the Chinese company acquired IBM’s personal-computer unit for $1.25 billion.

Offloading the x86 server division would remove a less profitable unit from IBM’s books, helping the company reduce its reliance on the struggling hardware business.

“It’s not strategic, it’s not a high-margin business and it’s very volume-dependent,” said David Grossman, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. “They want to get this sold and focus on what they want to do in the rest of the hardware business.”

For Lenovo, the world’s largest maker of personal computers, the server deal represents a push into new businesses amid a global slump in the PC industry. The company has also agreed to buy Google Inc. (GOOG:US)’s Motorola Mobility unit.

“All regulatory approvals remain on track for year-end close,” said Brion Tingler, a Lenovo spokesman. He declined to comment more specifically on details of the CFIUS review process.

Refiling Rate

Refiling a transaction for a CFIUS review isn’t unheard of. In 2012, 114 notices of transactions were filed with CFIUS, and 22 of those were withdrawn, according to the committee’s most recent annual report. In 10 cases, parties refiled in 2012, and in two cases, the parties refiled in 2013.

In the remaining cases, the parties “abandoned the transaction for commercial reasons or in light of CFIUS’s national security concerns,” according to the report.

The IBM deal was expected to spark a close review in part because U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security, buy the IBM servers, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Industries. They are also used by the nation’s biggest telecommunications companies.

The decision to refile with CFIUS “does indicate that things haven’t gone smoothly,” said Harry Clark, a lawyer at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in Washington.

‘Time Is Money’

“At some level some challenges have been encountered,” he said. “That could be anything from they were relatively modest and there’s time to get it all done and they may have clear path to getting it done, or it could mean it’s a desperate situation.”

Transaction reviews by CFIUS are increasingly requiring more time, said Nancy McLernon, president of the Organization for International Investment. Delays puts deals by foreign companies at risk, she said in interview.

“Time is money,” McLernon said. “Delays, whether they’re because of anything substantive or just because of resources, can be an inhibitor to cross-border transactions.”

To contact the reporters on this story: David McLaughlin in Washington at [e-mail]; Alex Barinka in New York at [e-mail]; Edmond Lococo in Beijing at [e-mail]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sara Forden at [e-mail]; Sarah Rabil at [e-mail] Crayton Harrison, Stephen West

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-06-03/lenovo-ibm-said-to-seek-extension-in-u-dot-s-dot-review-of-server-deal

[revlis]

Lenovo’s new budget tablets now available for $129 and up

05/29/2014 at 3:00 PM by Brad Linder 2 Comments

As promised, Lenovo is now selling its new A Series Android tablets in the United States.

The tablets feature 7 to 10 inch displays, quad-core processors, and prices starting as low as $129 — although in typical Lenovo fashion, that’s the price after “instant savings,” suggesting that the cheapest tablet actually has a retail value of $169.

lenovo ideatab a8

The Lenovo A7, Lenovo A8, and Lenovo A10 tablets each feature 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT8121 ARM Cortex-A7 quad-core processors, 1280 x 800 pixel IPS displays and 1GB of RAM.

The 7 inch model has a 3450mAh battery for up to 7.5 hours of use and comes in two versions. For $129 you get a tablet with 8GB of storage and a 2MP front camera but no rear camera. For $139 you get a 16GB model with a 5MP rear camera plus a 2MP front-facing camera.

Lenovo’s 8 inch tablet has a 4200mAh battery with up to 8 hours of battery life, front and rear cameras, and 16GB of storage. Lenovo sells it for $180, although it’s available from Amazon for $155.

The $250 Lenovo A10 has a 10 inch screen, front and rear cameras, and a 6340mAH battery for up to 9 hours of run time. Amazon is already selling the tablet for $220.

All three sizes feature 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB ports, and microSD card slots. And all of the new tabelts run Google Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.



Lenovo is also continuing to sell the 7 inch A1000L tablet for $99. That model has a slower 1.2 GHz MediaTek MTK8137 dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean software, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage, and a 7 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display.

It’s worth spending a little more for the new A7 tablet… or if you have your heart set on a $99 tablet you might be better off with the HP 7 Plus which has more memory and a quad-core CPU.

http://liliputing.com/2014/05/lenovos-new-budget-tablets-now-available-129.html

[revlis]

Report points to 5 percent mobile PC shipments decline
Summary: Shipments of tablet PCs and mobile PCs are down, but it is nothing compared to the bloodbath suffered by notebooks.

One of the current drags on the PC industry is falling tablet PC shipments, and a new report by NPD DisplaySearch indicates that the drop could be as much as 5 percent annually.

Tablet PCs accounted for more than half of all mobile PC shipments for the Q1 2014 period, and year-on-year shipment growth for these devices fell for the first time, down almost 5 percent, from 59 million units shipped in Q1 2013 to 56.3 million units in Q1 2014.

Mobile PCs have displayed a similar year-on-year fall of 5 percent, with 99 million units shipped in Q1 2014 compared to 104.4 million units in Q1 2013.

But this is nothing compared to the bloodbath suffered by notebooks, which are down 14 percent, from 40.7 million units in Q1 2013 to 35 million units in Q1 2014. Offsetting this, ultra-slim PC shipments rose 62 percent, up from 4.8 million units in Q1 2013 to 7.8 million units in Q1 2014.

In the mobile PC market, Apple remains king, with nearly twice the share of second-ranked Samsung, and over 80 percent of Apple’s mobile PC shipments were tablet PCs, compared to 90 percent of Samsung’s shipments.

The report claims that both Lenovo and HP saw their mobile PC shipments grow between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014. Lenovo has seen its tablet PC shipments increase from 3 percent of its overall mobile PC shipments in Q1 2013, to nearly 30 percent in Q1 2014.

http://www.zdnet.com/report-points-to-5-percent-mobile-pc-shipments-decline-7000029938/

[revlis]

Devon IT Hosts Webinar Series for Lenovo Sales and Channel Partners On Selling The Lenovo Thin Client Solutions
Webinars outline how Lenovo thin clients offer Channel Partners New Sales Opportunities

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., May 27, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Devon IT, Inc., a leading provider of thin client and virtual desktop software solutions, today announced that it will be hosting a series of webinars for Lenovo Sales Representatives and Channel Partners. The first in this series will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2014, titled, “Selling The Lenovo Thin Client Solution to Customers.”


Lenovo now offers an expanded end-to-end enterprise solution portfolio with thin clients that provide enterprise level functionality at a great value for customers interested in desktop virtualization. These thin clients include Lenovo’s ThinkCentre M32 and the newly launched ThinkCentre M73 thin clients, and offer customers a choice of a flexible Linux-based thin client operating system, LeTOS or Windows Embedded Standard 7.

The Lenovo thin client also features Lenovo Thin Client Manager (LTM) software that is effective, secure and easy to use. Lenovo collaborated in partnership with Devon IT, a worldwide leader of thin client solutions to develop these advance thin client software solutions.

“Many Lenovo customer organizations expanding their desktop environments to include virtualized and server-hosted desktops or evaluating virtual desktop approaches,” explained Joe Makoid, president of Devon IT. “These webinars can help the Lenovo channel with essential information and market opportunities to any customers interested in thin client and VDI solutions.”

Lenovo Thin Client Webinar Series for Lenovo Sales and Channel Partners
Date: Thursday, May 29th, 2014
Time: 10:30am ET or 3pm ET

Selling The Lenovo Thin Client Solution to Customers
-Thin Clients Offered by Lenovo
-Thin Client Roadmap
-Choosing an Operating System
-Managing Thin Clients with Lenovo Thin Client Manager (LTM)
-Introducing the Ceptor an HDMI Thin Client
-VDI Blaster is a Migration Tool
-The Lenovo Virtual Desktop Solution as A Whole

Sign Up:
10:30 am ET https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/281465969
3:00 pm ET https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/330464281

For information on virtual desktop hardware and software solutions or to schedule a private demonstration, email [e-mail] or call [phone] or toll-free at [phone]. For more information about Devon IT software solutions available through Lenovo including Ceptor and VDI Blaster™, please visit http://www.devonit.com/thin-client-software .

About Devon IT

Devon IT, Inc., ( www.devonit.com ) is a leading information technology company that offers thin client software, hardware, and virtual desktop solutions. Devon IT's products offer users in various industries and environments greater IT security, enhanced manageability, improved reliability, and lower costs. Devon IT is also the creator of patented VDI Blaster™, a software suite that transforms PCs into virtual desktops and the innovators of the SafeBook® thin client notebook. The company is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania with offices in London, Shanghai and Bangalore. Read Devon IT's technical blog, "Thin Tank," at http://www.devonit.com/blog .

All company, brand, or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140527006350/en/

SOURCE: Devon IT, Inc.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/devon-it-hosts-webinar-series-for-lenovo-sales-and-channel-partners-on-selling-the-lenovo-thin-client-solutions-2014-05-27

[revlis]

Lenovo E10-30 is a 10 inch Bay Trail Windows notebook


05/26/2014 at 9:36 AM by Brad Linder 9 Comments

What’s old is new again… and while notebooks with 10 inch screens were out of fashion for a few years, they seem to be making a comeback in 2014.

Lenovo already offers a Flex 10 mini-laptop with a toucshcreen display that folds back 300 degrees. Now it looks like the company may be preparing to launch a new model called the Lenovo E10-30.

It’s a 10 inch notebook with an Intel Bay Trail processor, 4GB of RAM, and support for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Android, or Linux.

Lenovo hasn’t officially launched the E10-30 laptop yet, but the folks at Mobile Geeks found support documents for the computer which include drawings, specs, and other details.

Here’s what we can expect from the laptop if and when it’s released:

10.1 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display
4GB of RAM (2 SODIMM slots)
2.5 inch SATA II hard drive
Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Android, or Linpus Linux pre-installed
SD card slot
1 USB 3.0 port and 2 USB 2.0 ports
VGA
10/100 Ethernet
WiFi + Bluetooth
0.3MP or 1MP camera
Stereo speakers and built-in mic
It looks like Lenovo plans to offer configurations with a range of Intel Bay Trail processors including models with Intel Celeron N2806, N2815, N2920, and Pentium N3520 processors. These are all low-power, 64-bit chips designed to balance decent performance and long battery life.

Speaking of batteries, the replacement parts list mentions two different battery options, so it seems the entry-level model may come with a 3 cell, 24Whr battery while there may be an option for an extended 6 cell, 48Whr battery that should offer about twice as much run time.



If the Lenovo E10-30 looks familiar, that’s probably because Lenovo used to make a netbook that looked virtually identical. The Lenovo E10-30 is based on the same design as the IdeaPad S100 from 2011… it just has newer parts including a USB 3.0 port, more RAM, and a faster CPU.

Unfortunately if the hardware maintenance manual is accurate, it seems Lenovo hasn’t bothered to upgrade to faster LAN or storage interfaces. A SATA III connector and/or Gigabit Ethernet would be nice.

There’s no word on how much the Lenovo E10-30 will cost or when it will launch, but based on the spec sheet, this looks like it should be a relatively inexpensive option for folks looking for a netbook-sized laptop with somewhat more modern parts.

http://liliputing.com/2014/05/lenovo-e10-30-10-inch-bay-trail-windows-notebook.html