Lenovo launches a pair of multimode Yoga Tablets with the help of its latest celebrity hire-- Two and a Half Men and, more recently, Steve Jobs biopic star Ashton Kutcher.
Sharing a name with the Yoga convertible PC family, the two tablets come in 8- and 10-inch sizes and feature an oversized cylindrical battery hiding an unusual built-in kickstand.
The battery promises up to 18 hours of use, while the kickstand allows three "unique" modes-- "hold" (as in actually holding the tablet), "stand" (the kickstand holds the device upright) and "tilt" (the tablet is face down but the battery props it slightly upwards), all in the name of breaking what Lenovo calls "sea of sameness" tablet design.
Aside from the kickstands the tablets appear to be fairly average spec-wise, with 1280x800 displays, quad-core MediaTek processors, dual 5/1.6MP cameras, up to 32GB of storage (expandable to 64GB via microSD slot) and front-facing Dolby speakers.
Connectivity comes through micro USB port, wifi and 3G (optional). The OS of choice is Android 4.2.2, if in Lenovo-customised form.
As for Ashton Kutcher, his "hiring" is less odd than it first appears-- the actor is well known for his tech investments, having poured capital in the likes of Airbnb, Foursquare, Spotify and Path. At Lenovo he will reportedly be "challenging assumptions, bringing new perspective and contributing his technical expertise to Yoga Tablet and other devices.” Indeed.
Yoga Tablet models should be available from November 2013, together with a companion Bluetooth keyboard cover accessory.
