ASUS Eee Pad Transformer gets Android 3.1 update

ASUS has already released an Android 3.1 update for its Eee Pad Transformer, just two months after the tablet arrived on the market. The upgrade, which was first introduced last month at Google's I/O conference, enables users to take advantage of new Movie and Books apps, resizable widgets, and expanded support for USB-attached devices.

Android 3.1 is said to be automatically arriving as an over-the-air update pushed to many of the tablets. It is unclear if the upgrade is immediately available for all Eee Pad Transformer owners, or if the company is adhering to a spread schedule.

Electronista

ASUS confirms Eee Pad Transformer shortage, cites demand

ASUS partly confirmed rumors of Eee Pad Transformer shortages on Friday through a statement from spokesman David Chang. He didn't acknowledge talk of just 10,000 of the Android 3.0 tablets shipping in April but anticipated that it would take at least a month to get back on track, with 100,000 in May and 200,000 in June. There would be a "significant alleviation" of shortages by June, Chang told NetbookNews, two months after it went on sale.

The representative wouldn't touch on beliefs that the shortage had been caused by Apple's supply demands for the iPad 2 cutting into ASUS' supply. He instead argued that demand for the Transformer was exceeding predictions "by far." While the tablet is available worldwide, US distributors have cast doubt on claims of sheer interest since retailers didn't receive promised stock to gauge supply.

The 300,000-plus sales would still give ASUS a rare win in the mobile space over some of its competitors. While still just a small fraction of what Apple sells, the number would eclipse the 250,000 Xooms Motorola shipped in the winter. Depending on Motorola's performance in the spring, the Eee Pad Transformer could be the most popular Android 3.0 tablet. Samsung's Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 may be popular but aren't shipping until early June.

The Transformer has earned much of its reputation through offering relatively high quality but for just $400 in a 16GB edition, $200 less than the 32GB-only Xoom and $100 less than a 16GB iPad 2. Its signature trick is an optional keyboard dock that also supplies a trackpad and a second battery that boosts it to 16 hours of use.

Electronista

First Impressions: Asus Transformer Tablet

The latest Android 3.0 tablet shows off an innovative design with its keyboard dock.

On its own, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer TF101 Tablet doesn't look as if it's about to set the tablet wars on fire. But after spending time with the Transformer ($399 for the 16GB model, $499 for the 32GB version) and its matching keyboard dock, I think Asus is on to something.

My full review of the Transformer is in progress, but I wanted to share my initial impressions after spending some hands-on time with the tablet. When I first turned it on, I noticed immediately some pleasant user-interface improvements that Asus made to stock Android 3.0 (Honeycomb).

For starters, the core navigation buttons are dramatically better. Asus replaced the standard Honeycomb nav buttons (three light-blue outlines that serve as the primary navigation aids at the lower left of the screen) with three white, solid button formations that are crisp and distinct. In particular, the back/exit button represents its function with a looping return arrow--an improvement on the stock Honeycomb's chintzy back arrow that looks more like a bookmark symbol.

Another big change involves the Asus keyboard. The stock Honeycomb keyboard is available as an option, but by default the Transformer uses Asus's own keyboard. The redesigned keyboard has a row of number keys up top; and keys in both the number row and the first letter row are slightly taller than the ones on the rest of the keyboard. The keyboard appears to occupy about the same depth as the regular Honeycomb keyboard, but with the added benefit of the number row (a native first among Android 3.0 tablets). The keyboard incorporates Google's predictive text, too, another native first for an Android 3.0 tablet. Unfortunately, this feature behaved a bit unpredictably in my testing. For example, it didn't work consistently when filling in fields in the Web browser. Also, the keyboard sacrifices some of its QWERTYness--by having its Z and S keys stacked, for example. On the whole, the keyboard was responsive.

The Transformer gets its name, of course, from its companion piece, the $149 Mobile Docking Station. And Asus got this crucial part of the equation right. Though I wish that the USB ports weren't protected by covers that I'll often have to remove to reveal them, and though I regret that the space bar depresses below the bezel separating it from the touchpad, those are minor drawbacks.

The Mobile Docking Station transforms the Transformer into a netbooklike clamshell that weighs just under 3 pounds when combined (the docking station itself weighs 1.41 pounds). The two pieces fit together seamlessly and easily, unlike keyboards that are of separate sizes and designs from the tablet (as is true of Bluetooth keyboards for the iPad 2); and the solution is far more integrated and elegant than even the best-designed iPad cases I've seen that include a keyboard. The Transformer ends up looking smart and acting clever: The touchscreen is fully operational while plugged in, save for access to the on-screen keyboard; but in addition, some key buttons--including Android back/exit and home buttons--are integrated into the keyboard. The island-style keys are distinct and easy to press; they made accurate typing a breeze for this touch-typist. And by marrying the two components, you'll get extra battery life (which Asus estimates will increase by about 72 percent over the battery life for the tablet alone). If you needed to grab the Transformer and its Mobile Docking Station on the run, you could do so with one hand, a convenience for mobile professionals.

Asus clearly is being aggressive with the Transformer. The 16GB model costs $100 less than the comparable Apple iPad 2. The Android 3.0 app environment remains a big question mark, but the Transformer plus Mobile Docking Station has the potential to be a winning combination for prospective tablet owners who plan to use the device for both productivity and entertainment. Look for more details in my forthcoming full review.

PCWorld

Could the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer be the killer Android tablet?

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablet looks very impressive on paper - and on the shelf, with its low price tag - and could be set to embarrass larger rivals if it outsells the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 or Motorola Xoom.

Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS came to prominence as a disruptive force in low-end laptops - well, netbooks - and is now taking its low prices to Android-powered tablets. But this time, ASUS is not going for low power: the Eee Pad has a full 10.1-inch screen, Tegra 2 power, and the very latest, optimized-for-tablets version of Android, dubbed 'Honeycomb'.

Indeed, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer has almost identical specs (and dimensions) to the Motorola Xoom, but sells for exactly half the price (US$399); it can even humiliate Moto's flagship Atrix 4G smartphone with its so-called Lapdock™ when the Eee Pad is hooked up with its optional laptop dock, making it a first-ever Honeycomb lappie that's more powerful than the Atrix + Lapdock combo. To disrupt things further, ASUS' keyboard accessory is a full two hundred dollars cheaper than Motorola's, yet is actually more useful and versatile.

The only cheaper tablet would be one running Android 2.2 - which is not intended for tablet usage - and with far inferior specs, such as the critically panned Huawei IDEOS S7, replete with its appalling resistive screen and crappy stylus.

So, with Motorola and Samsung unwilling to state how many of their tablets they're actually selling - preferring instead to stress how many they have shipped, which might obscure how many are sitting unsold in warehouses - ASUS now has a killer opportunity to become a surprise second to Apple in the iPad/tablet wars/ How do you fancy ASUS' chances, or the Eee Pad hardware itself?

CNET

Eee Pad Transformer limited to 10,000 a month, iPad a factor

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ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer shortage might be even more severe than thought, sources maintained Monday. ASUS had planned to ship 300,000 units a month but was facing a component shortage that capped it at just 10,000 units, NetbookNews' German wing was told. Production wouldn't get to intended levels until at least mid-June.

The shortage wasn't due to pricing. Parts weren't available at any price, one contact said.

If accurate, the shortage would be even worse than thought. Initial talk had it limited to 100,000 units a month and recovering in May. ASUS' tablet was seen as possibly the most effective Android 3.0 tablet at $400 and strong reviews but has been virtually unavailable following a near immediate sellout owed to how few were in stores. Best Buy and other chains weren't promising any supply until May.

Suppliers have increasingly given indication that Apple's iPad 2 may be consuming much of the supply and could be responsible for ASUS' problems. Although the Taiwan firm's buying plans aren't known, Apple is much more aggressive than most in negotiating long-term buying deals where many others are more likely to buy on-the-spot and are vulnerable to shortages.

ASUS isn't known to have commented on any of the shortage rumors.

Electronista