LENOVO YOGA 900 HANDS ON: A VERSATILE FEATHER-LIGHT LAPTOP

Lenovo has just launched the Yoga 900 – a convertible laptop that runs on Intel’s latest 6th generation Skylake processor. Being a product under the Yoga lineup, this laptop can be used in four different modes: laptop, stand, tablet, and tent. Yes, the Yoga 900 is fast and light, but what else does it have to offer?

On paper, the Lenovo Yoga 900 convertible laptop can be equipped with Intel’s latest 6th generation core i7 processor. Not only that, it can also be fitted with up to 16GB of RAM and have a maximum of 512GB SSD storage. The display is a 13.3-inch QHD+ IPS multitouch screen, boasting a resolution of 3200 x 1800 and a maximum brightness level of 300 nits.

As it does not have a dedicated GPU, the Yoga 900 utilises Intel’s integrated HD graphics instead. Additionally, the laptop has a 1MP 720p HD camera on the front and a Dolby-certified JBL stereo speaker system. More impressively, the convertible measures 14.9mm thin and weighs 1.29KG.

When I picked up the Yoga 900, I was pretty impressed with how light it is. The combination of the aluminium on the exterior with the palm rest and display frame made from plastic definitely contributed to it being so lightweight. The outside of the laptop definitely screams premium, and despite the fact that plastic was used in the overall construction of the laptop, it doesn’t diminish its overall premium feel.

By having a QHD+ IPS screen, the display of the Yoga 900 is really pleasant to look at. It is bright enough and the blacks are black. Colours are vibrant, and it has good viewing angles as well. That being said, the convertible does have a really glossy display which interferes with the overall viewing experience, not to mention how much of a fingerprint magnet it is.

The watchband hinge in the middle of the laptop is one of the most attractive part of the screen. It has 800 individual pieces woven together to form the hinge that transforms the laptop into four different modes. Each mode feels rigid and the transition is smooth – rather natural really. So for those who have doubts with the watchband hinge, no need to worry; the Yoga 900 won’t fall apart that easily.

When I took the Yoga 900 for a quick spin, it performed pretty well. Folders and applications opens in an instant, as expected of a laptop with an SSD. I didn’t have the time to play any games on the laptop, but seeing that it only uses integrated Intel HD graphics, I don’t see myself or anyone else playing Star Wars Battlefront or Fallout 4 on this.

In terms of audio, the JBL speakers on the Yoga 900 really did not disappoint. There was a good balance of treble and bass, and with the help of Dolby, the audio performance on the laptop is really rich. However, because of the overall ambient noise at the event, I couldn’t judge the laptop’s volume properly.

Besides that, the keyboard of the Yoga 900 has good travel and typing on it is satisfactory. The trackpad, on the other hand, feels smooth and offers a tiny amount of resistance. It’s pretty accurate, but I personally prefer to use the touchscreen. It is very responsive and my touch inputs were accurate most of the time. To put this to the test, I drew a straight line on the Paint app with my finger, and I could see that my line was perfectly traced.

At the time of this writing, we do not know how much the Yoga 900 will be sold for in Malaysia. Since it is a lightweight laptop that runs on an Intel Skylake processor, has a beautiful display, and even a SSD storage, there’s a good chance this laptop will not be affordable. That being said, the Yoga 900 is an interesting convertible, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it once again for a full review.

Intel, Microsoft, HP, Dell and Lenovo Unite for Big PC Advertising Push

Intel and Microsoft are teaming with three leading PC makers on a new ad campaign designed to make potential computer buyers more aware of all the things a modern PC can do.

The campaign, with the slogan “PC Does What?” is set to be announced Thursday at a Webcast featuring the companies’ top marketing executives, according to sources familiar with the companies’ plans. It will feature TV, print and online advertisements, sources said.

The fact that Intel, Microsoft, HP, Dell and Lenovo all want to see more PCs sold is hardly news. But that they have gotten together on a unified campaign is a first.

Historically, much of the PC industry’s advertising has been subsidized by Intel and Microsoft, whose profit margins are far larger than those who make PCs. But typically they work individually with each PC maker rather than as a group.

As for the campaign, it will run in the U.S. and China and is designed to let people know that the latest PCs do a lot more than the machine they likely have at home and at work. Intel noted when it launched its newest chip family that there are 500 million PCs out there that are five years old or older.

The effort comes as PC sales continue to decline as consumers put their money into other devices, including smartphones, TVs and tablets. PC sales are forecast to shrink by more than 8 percent and not stabilize until 2017, according to the latest forecast from IDC.

Intel and Microsoft are providing the bulk of the funds for this effort, but Dell, Lenovo and HP are also kicking in ad dollars.

Sources declined to say just how much is being spent, but one described it as a “sizable” campaign, commensurate with promoting a $300 billion per year industry.

The effort has also come together rather quickly over the last couple months, the sources said.

Representatives for the companies were not immediately available for comment.

Lenovo smartphone shipments reach only 8-9 million units in 1Q15

Lenovo's smartphone shipments in first-quarter 2015 reached only 8-9 million units, lower than the volume that Digitimes Research had previously estimated and about the same as the level a year ago due to high inventory built up during the fourth quarter of 2014. Lenovo brand image is relatively weak in the smartphone market and the fact that it has two smartphone brands - Lenovo and Motorola Mobility - is not helping its marketing. The two brands overlap in their targeting market segments and pricing ranges.

Lenovo started pushing its 4G smartphone shipments at the end of the third quarter 2014 and achieved shipments of around 15 million units in the fourth quarter of 2014. Judging from Lenovo's component orders placed with the upstream supply chain in early 2015, Digitimes Research originally had expected Lenovo to ship at least 10 million smartphones in the first quarter.

However, the China-based vendor's smartphone sales have been heavily relying on telecom carriers, and it shipments were greatly affected by quickly rising inventory in the fourth quarter of 2014 as China's telecom carriers had significantly adjusted their subsidization plans for handsets, weakening sales of smartphones bundled with telecom services.

Meanwhile, Lenovo has been finding it difficult to build up a strong brand image in the local smartphone market. After launching the Lemon series product line for online marketing in December 2014, Lenovo has adjusted its smartphone lineup and is offering its Vibe series devices for the CNY1,500 and above price segment, the A series products for the sub-CNY1,000 price segment and the telecom channel, and the Lemon series for the sub-CNY1,000 price segment and the online market. But the China-base vendor's moves have so far been unable to improve its brand recognition.

Lenovo originally expected the dual-brand lineup after its acquisition of Motorola Mobility would benefit its operation in overseas markets; however, the strategy instead is causing the two brands to compete against each other.

The Motorola brand has seen stable demand in North America, and has also achieved significant results for its recently launched inexpensive smartphones in emerging markets such as Latin America and India. Against such a background, the China-based vendor introduced the inexpensive Motorola smartphone models to China in the first quarter, and the sales results were impressive. But Lenovo did not expect that such impressive results would come at a price: its Lenovo-branded phones were cannibalized by the Motorola devices.

China's Lenovo, Xiaomi to work on Windows phones

BEIJING: Microsoft said on Wednesday that it will partner Lenovo and Xiaomi to develop smart devices that runs the latest version of its Windows operating system. 

The US multinational announced an initiative to deepen cooperation with China's leading hardware and software makers to promote Windows 10 on computers, tablets and smartphones, during a two-day conference in the southern city of Shenzhen, Xinhua news agency reported. 

Windows 10 is slated for launch sometime this summer. 

Lenovo, one of China's largest smartphone makers and the parent company of Motorola Mobility, will launch Windows-based smartphones this summer, Tong Fuyao, general manager of Lenovo China, said. 

A separate statement from Microsoft on Wednesday said the Lenovo phone will be a contract device with China Mobile, the country's largest telecom operator. 

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, now the third largest in the world, will provide feedback to Microsoft based on a test run of the operating system on Xiaomi's flagship smartphone Mi4 later this year. 

Windows Phone accounts for a meager 0.4 percent market share in China in the 12 months ending September last year, compared with more than 90 percent share between Google's Android and Apple's iOS, according to consultancy Kantar Research. 

Microsoft's push to expand also faces challenges from Chinese players. NASDAQ-listed Alibaba announced in February an investment in smartphone maker Meizu to promote its own mobile operating system Yun OS. 

LENOVO P70 WITH 4,000MAH BATTERY NOW AVAILABLE IN MALAYSIA FOR RM729

Lenovo Malaysia has quietly announced the Lenovo P70‘s availability in Malaysia on its Facebook and Twitter accounts. This particular smartphone is equipped with a huge 4,000mAh battery that is said to offer up to 34 days of standby time or up to 46 hours of talk time, which is pretty impressive.

The Lenovo P70’s specifications are pretty standard for a mid-range device. It has a 5-inch 1280 x 720 IPS display, a Mediatek MT6752 octa-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz paired with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded with a microSD card, and Android 4.4 KitKat, presumably with the company’s Vibe UI on top.

In the camera department, there is a 13MP rear camera along with a 5MP front-facing shooter. The Lenovo P70 is also a dual-SIM smartphone and has LTE connectivity. Judging by these specifications and the very generous 4,000mAh battery, the P70 is a pretty compelling smartphone, especially for budget-conscious consumers.

Design wise, the P70 seems to share some design elements of the Lenovo Vibe Z2 Pro, especially the rear of the device. The curved sides of the back cover should help with the ergonomics of the P70; assuming the material is not slippery.

The Lenovo P70 is now available for purchase in Malaysia. With a retail price of RM729, it’s priced rather competitively.