ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Is the Galaxy S III is too massive for small European hands? Samsung Mobile Communications head JK Shin confirms the release of a 4-inch version of the smartphone, citing increase in demand for 4-inch devices from the European market.

"There's a lot of demand for a 4-inch device in Europe. Some call it an entry-level device, but we call it "mini,'" JK Shin says.

The regular Galaxy S III display is 4.8-inch-- not too unusual (or large) in an Android landscape where the average size for a high-end device is around 4.5-inch.

However, alongside the titular downsizing the Galaxy S III mini receives something of a downgrade. Display resolution is 800 x 480 (down from 1280 x 720), the processor is a 1GHz dual-core number (instead of the quad-core Samsung Exynos inside the bigger brother) and the rear-facing camera is 5MP instead of 8MP.

4G capability also gets the kick in the Mini.

Bigger mobile devices are something of a surprise market success... so much so even Apple boosted the display size (up to 4-inch, mind) in the iPhone 5. Mind, no confirmation exists on whether Apple will actually shrink the iPad in size as yet.

Go Samsung Introduces Galaxy S III Mini

Go Samsung Galaxy S III Mini 4-inch Announcement (INews 24)

Anyone who wants to know where Microsoft is heading just needs to check the 2012 Steve Ballmer letter to shareholders-- one pointing to a future of hardware and online services.

Perhaps taking a page or two from the Apple playbook, Ballmer talks of Microsoft building "specific devices for specific purposes" with the Xbox and Surface tablet acting as examples... all while continuing to work with its "vast ecosystem of partners" (Dell, Samsung, HTC et al).

The company will also continue the development of "new form factors" making use of touch-, gesture- and speech-based input.

"This is a significant shift, both in what we do and how we see ourselves-— as a devices and services company," Ballmer continues. The writing on the wall reading "Surface phone," anyone?

Windows will remain the glue holding all Microsoft offerings together, as the "one platform" uniting PC, tablet, phone, server and cloud.

Microsoft is also going through another shift-- from selling software to cloud-based services, both within consumer and enterprise segments. Ballmer claims "the ultimate experience with the new Office for both consumers and businesses will come when it is paired with a Windows 8 device and delivered as a cloud subscription service with Office 365."

For the curious, alongside the shareholders' letter comes the Microsoft annual proxy filing-- one showing how Ballmer has a lower 2012 bonus ($620000, down -9% from 2011). How come? Flat Windows sales and the failure to ensure the company provided a choice of browser to some European customers, of course.

Go Microsoft Annual Shareholder Letter

Go Microsoft 2012 Financial Review

Customers wanting input devices for the Windows 8 PCs of the near future now have a selection of wireless Logitech options-- the Touchpad T650, Touch Mouse T620 and the Zone Touch mouse T400.

All the devices are compatible with Windows 8 gesture commands, connecting to PCs via proprietary Logitech 2.4GHz wireless technology instead of Bluetooth.

The Touchpad T650 is a Magic Trackpad-style touchpad. It has a fairly large glass surface and uses a number of gestures-- placing a single figure on the surface activates the cursor, while adding a second finger controls horizontal and vertical swiping.

It carries a rechargeable (via micro USB) battery providing what Logitech claims is up to 1 month of battery life.

The Touch Mouse T620 also offers touch-based gesture functionality through a surface that is entirely touch-enabled. The Zone Touch Mouse T400 also uses touch commands, but only on a touch strip (comprising x2 buttons) allowing users to move up and down through pages and scroll across Start Screen live tiles.

Both mice run on x2 AA batteries for reportedly up to 18 months.

All the devices are also Windows 7-compatible (if minus touch commands) and should ship in Europe from October 2012.

Go Logitech Windows 8 Touch Devices

Lenovo adds to the Windows 8 laptop-tablet hybrid portfolio with the IdeaTab Lynx-- a Windows 8 tablet users can convert into a laptop by plugging it into the included keyboard dock.

It has an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 IPS touchscreen and carries a dual-core 1.8GHz Cloverview Intel Atom processor, 2GB of RAM and either 32 or 64GB of flash-based storage.

The processor allows the tablet to run x86 programs in desktop mode-- separating the Lynx from other hybrid devices running Windows RT on ARM processors.

The detachable keyboard dock is also interesting. It has an AccuType layout (similar to that in bigger Lenovo notebooks), x2 USB ports, Micro HDMI, microSD card slot and a built-in 6800mAh battery providing up to 16 hours of extra power according to Lenovo.

The IdeaTab Lynx will be available from December 2012, together with all other portable Lenovo Windows 8 devices.

Go Lenovo Debuts Family of Convertible Windows 8 Devices