Asus Padfone: A Smartphone That Snaps into a Tablet

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If you really think about it—reeeeally think about it—tablets are currently little more than gigantic smartphones. So why not build what amounts to a large-screen dock for a smartphone and call it a tablet?

That’s what Asus is planning to do with its recently-announced Padfone. It’s an accessory for an Asus smartphone that harnesses the phone’s processing power and connectivity to drive the actual tablet experience. The getup is expected to become available in time for the holidays this year.

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According to Asus:

“The ASUS Padfone is a device that explores one possible convergence between two popular mobile devices – the smartphone and tablet. The Padfone solves the problem of data transfer hassles and multiple SIM cards when both a smartphone and 3G tablet are used. With the Padfone, the smartphone docks inside the tablet to give users an expanded view to suit their tasks. With the phone docked, it can recharge from the tablet’s larger battery and the tablet can also make use of the smartphone’s 3G internet connection. The dual interfaces for both the pad and phone ensure an enhanced user experience as the layout is automatically adjusted for all activities such as video conferencing, web browsing and emailing.”

So, again, the whole “tablet” part is basically a higher-resolution screen and extended battery. It’s nothing without the phone, though. This is potentially a great idea, albeit with some questions that still need to be answered:

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