Nvidia details Tegra Note tablet platform

Written by Edward Chester

September 18, 2013 | 15:29

Tags: #ipad-mini #tablet #tegra-4

Companies: #nvidia

Nvidia has revealed Tegra Note, a new tablet platform based on the company's Tegra 4 processor.

The platform consists of not just a reference tablet hardware design but software features too, including DirectStylus for enhanced stylus control and TegraZone, Nvidia's store for Tegra-optimised games.

Matt Wuebbling introduced Tegra Note on Nvidia's blog where he described it as "a complete tablet platform, designed by NVIDIA and brought to market by our partners.

"It embodies the NVIDIA brand — from our hardware and software (right down to OTA updates), to our industrial design, accessories and network of partners in game development," he continued.

With a suggested price of $199, Nvidia is clearly targeting the Tegra Note at the new wave of lower-cost, smaller tablets such as the iPad mini and Google Nexus 7.

The reference hardware consists of a 7 inch tablet with a Tegra 4 processor, 5MP rear camera, 16GB onboard storage along with a microSD slot, microHDMI video output and front facing stereo speakers. Nvidia states the battery life will be a reasonably impressive 10 hours. However, at only 1,280 x 800, the screen resolution is a little below what we'd expect for a brand new device.

It's other features are listed below.
  • Ultra-fast performance — Powered by Tegra 4 with a 72-core GeForce GPU and quad-core Cortex-A15 CPU with a fifth battery-saver core, making Tegra Note the world’s fastest 7-inch tablet.
  • Superb stylus — NVIDIA DirectStylus technology transforms a normal stylus into an incredibly responsive experience with finer point and broader stroke control. It also comes bundled with apps for convenient, stroke-based note taking.
  • Exceptional sound — NVIDIA PureAudio technology offers rich, deep audio — including the widest frequency range in a tablet — through front-facing stereo speakers with a bass-reflex port.
  • Groundbreaking camera — The camera uses Tegra 4’s processing power and Chimera computational photography architecture to deliver stunning new features. Tegra Note also brings SmugMug’s Camera Awesome app — one of the top camera apps on iOS — to Android. Camera Awesome delivers exclusive Tegra 4 features like tap-to-track and 100 fps video with slow-motion playback.
  • TegraZone gaming — Delivering unmatched gaming, NVIDIA TegraZone provides easy access to Tegra-optimized games with visual effects that aren’t available on other tablets. Tegra Note also supports a variety of game controllers for console-class gaming.
  • Great battery life — 10-plus hours of HD video playback.
  • Accessories galore — An intelligent slide cover flips and bends to support and cover the tablet. It also lets the tablet be set up in three distinct positions using built-in magnets for added flexibility. The DirectStylus Pro Pack enables a variety of writing styles with interchangeable tips. And Bluetooth capabilities turn the tablet into a game controller.

Tegra Note doesn't instantly leap out as a revolution in the tablet market but rather a continuation of Nvidia's generally impressive showing so far. Indeed its most notable feature is likely to be the Tegra 4 chip itself, the GPU of which is very impressive.

The focus on stylus use and matching magnetic cover are also nice to see but we can't help feel price will be the final deciding factor in Tegra Note's success.
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