Transformer - 6/7 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Aug

Is Your ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Keyboard Dock Experiencing Battery Drain? Here Is Why, And How To Fix It

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Eee Pad Transformer, News

If you have the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer and keyboard dock, there's a chance that you've noticed the dock's built-in battery draining quicker than it should. This is a problem quite a few users are experiencing, and a member of the Transformer Forums by the name of ASUSFAN001 set out to get an answer to the issue directly from ASUS itself.

As it turns out, ASUS is completely aware of the issue and will discuss it openly with customers. The root of the problem is a specific chipset that is installed in certain units and not exclusive to a specific model number.

Aug

Tip: ASUS Transformer's Dock Supports Scrolling, Swiping, And Pinch-To-Zoom - Just Use Two Fingers

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in ASUS, Eee Pad Transformer, Tips & Tutorials

Last week, I traded my Google I/O Chromebook for an ASUS Eee Pad Transformer/keyboard dock combo and started exploring the fascinating laptop/tablet hybrid. Overall, my impressions so far are more positive than I thought they would be, and I'll most likely end up selling the 3G XOOM that has none of the features the Transformer with the dock have to offer. The only problem with the Transformer that I've experienced is a relatively poor battery life compared to both the XOOM and the Tab 10.1, which I can't explain yet... but I'm getting carried away.

After my exploration of the Transformer was complete, I noted 2 annoyances - the absence of the dedicated app switcher key on the dock, which was conveniently present on the Samsung keyboard dock I tested earlier this month, and the absence of the familiar scrolling area on the touchpad that I got so used to on my laptop.

Aug

[Tip] Want The App Switcher Button On ASUS Transformer's Keyboard Dock? Just Alt+Tab Instead

Posted by Ian G. Clifton in Eee Pad Transformer, Tips & Tutorials

If you are anything like me and you own the keyboard dock for the Asus Transformer, then you probably keep it attached the majority of the time. The dock gives you quick access to the home, search, and menu shortcut keys, but what about the recent apps button? Unfortunately, a hardware button was not included. Although it is not much work to just tap the on-screen button since it is just a few inches away, it can still be annoying.

Instead, the Android 3.2 update brought us something a lot of us are already very familiar with - Alt+Tab. Keep holding Alt down and press Tab to cycle through the eight recent apps.

Jul

[Review] ASUS Eee Pad Transformer - A Month With A Tablet In Disguise

Posted by Ian G. Clifton in ASUS, Eee Pad Transformer, Reviews, Tablet Reviews

Last Updated: July 24th, 2011

Tablets are rapidly changing the way we approach technology. They give a sense of immediacy and tactile connection that desktops and notebooks can't touch; however, I will be the first to admit that the hype seemed stupid to me. Several coworkers purchased the original iPad on the day it launched and were eager to show them off. "But what can you do with it?" was my question, and there wasn't a good answer. The tablet was not fulfilling any needs that netbooks and laptops could not already cover.

A year later, Honeycomb became available on the Motorola XOOM. The OS was rough around the edges, but it showed a different take on tablets - one that blended the always-connected nature of smartphones with many of the advantages of notebooks.

Jun

comScore: Android Accounts For Only 2.7% Of All Tablets In The US

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, News

We often hear smartphone and other market share figures bandied about by various analysts and market research firms - but comScore tends to be a pretty trusted name in the industry, particularly when it comes to web traffic figures, so we take these numbers as being fairly reliable.

In their most recent web traffic survey of "non-computer" devices (tablets, phones, media players), comScore evaluated traffic on a per-nation basis, and the results don't paint a pretty picture for Android tablets.

Raw percentage as part of all "Non-Computer Devices"

If you break down the raw percentages above, Apple's iPad represents over 97% of all tablet web traffic in the United States.

Jun

[Deal Alert] ASUS Transformer 32GB With Klipsch Headphones + 8GB SD Card For $475 On eBay (Ends Soon)

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Deals, Eee Pad Transformer, News

There's no denying that the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is one of the best Android tablets on the market. The keyboard dock makes it a one of a kind, and its unusually low price tag gives it more bang-for-your-buck than the bulk of the competition. Today's Daily Deal on eBay is the 32GB version of the Transformer (normally $500) with some pretty sweet accessories. While this bundle doesn't include the keyboard dock, it does bring a $90 Klipsch stereo headset and an 8GB microSD card to the table.

The Klipsch headset (1012134 ProMedia, if you want to get specific) is a sleek, red-and-black noise-cancelling in-ear setup designed with gaming in mind.

Jun

Transformer Owners: Use These Handy Widgets To See The Battery Level Of Your Dock

Posted by David Ruddock in Apps/Games, ASUS, Eee Pad Transformer, Tips & Tutorials

The ASUS Transformer is a nifty piece of tablet kit, particularly because of its super-awesome keyboard dock that comes with its own extended battery. But Transformer owners have complained that they're essentially left in the dark about the status of the dock's battery - because by default the only battery status displayed is that of the tablet itself. This means that you'll just see a nice, full battery for hours on end until suddenly your little green bar starts to drop precipitously, indicating the dock has finally run out of juice.

Some would say this doesn't matter that much, but I can empathize - I'm kind of an info-nut myself, I like to know what's going on with my device, and if I had an external battery, I'd want to know the remaining power figures.

May

Looking To Pick Up An Asus Transformer? Use NowInStock To Keep Tabs On Retailer's Stock Status

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in News, Transform

Official word from Asus is that they can't make enough Transformers to keep up with demand, something that's perhaps not surprising given that the tablet maintains high-end specs but a low-end price. Luckily for some users, keeping a hawkish eye on (r)etailer's websites has allowed them to snatch one up when the seller was lucky enough to get a few in stock. Now, however, there's an easier way, called NowInStock.

The service keeps tabs on a whole host of retailers and checks the stock situation every minute so that it's always up to date. Not only that, but as you can see, it shows the specific model and the price - impressive.

Apr

[Deal Alert] ASUS Eee Pad Transformer $40 Off From Target, But With A Catch - It's Backordered

Posted by Nate Kimmey in ASUS, Deals, Eee Pad Transformer, News

The Transformer is already a pretty great deal in the world of Android tablets - you get the same 10.1" screen and dual core processor as its competitors, for the low price of just $399.99. But if that price point isn't enough to get you to rush out and buy one, or you'd like some extra cash for that keyboard dock, you're in luck - you can get it from Target for a cool $40 off by using the code TCA27BAR at checkout.

The only problem is, the tablet isn't exactly available - it's still on backorder, so Target warns that it will begin shipping "in 2 to 4 weeks." Of course, shipping will set you back another $7.95, and you'll still be paying taxes, so chances are you either won't be saving too much off the original $400 price, or you'll be paying more, whereas with Amazon you could forego both those additional costs.

Apr

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer's Optional Keyboard Dock Accessory To Cost $150

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in ASUS, Eee Pad Transformer, News

If you've been watching the Eee Pad Transformer promo video and salivating over that awesome keyboard dock with 2 USB 2.0 ports, an SD card reader, and a secondary battery that doubles the tablet's battery life, what you're about to read may serve as a splash of cold water in your face.

While we knew that the keyboard dock was optional (but only if you paid really close attention, because based on the videos and the tablet's name, it wasn't the most obvious fact), an East Coast retailer PC Richard & Son just spilled the beans on the pricing of said accessory - it'll cost you $150.