New role of tablet proposed by "Yoga Tab 13"

13-inch Android tablet "Yoga Tab 13" and ThinkPad. The usage of displaying the news account of Twitter all the time is useful

It can also be a 16:10 sub-display

Yoga Tab 13 is a 13-inch tablet equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 870. The resolution of the IPS panel is 2,160 x 1,350 dots and the aspect ratio is 16:10. The memory is 8GB and the storage is 128GB, so you won't have to worry about it. There is no mobile network compatible model that can be equipped with a SIM.

What's interesting is that it has an HDMI input port. In other words, it can be used as a monitor for other devices. Almost all mobile monitors on the market today have an aspect ratio of 16: 9, so this 16:10 monitor is valuable. Also, if you have a separate monitor, you can also output video in Type-C ortho mode. It would be great if I could input in ortho mode with this, but it's a pity that I can't do that.

Equipped with JBL speakers, you can enjoy a wide range of activities from entertainment to online conferences, such as rich sound by Dolby Atmos. However, it is impossible to expect powerful deep bass when considering the equipment.

The Android version is Android 11 and is the latest at this time. The OS of the Android tablet product is lagging behind, and I was worried that there would be a difference in usability when using it with a smartphone, but this is fine. In that regard, I feel the difference between the iPad OS and the iPad, which is consistent with iOS, even if it is a fairly old model.

Kick stand that you can stand up and put on

That's why I tried using a tablet for the first time in a long time, but it's still good that it is equipped with a kickstand so that it can stand on its own at any time without using a cover. You can defer it at any angle you like.

It is a stand on a wire frame instead of a plate, and can be used like hanging with the stand up. There is also an item that "does not start" until the screen turns off when there is no operation, so there is no inconvenience in using it like a smart display by keeping the screen on all the time.

Due to the structural usability of this kickstand, it seems that this product is basically intended for use in landscapes. The aspect ratio is 16:10, so it should be easy to use even in portraits, but in that case the kickstand is useless. And it is hard to support and use the main body weight of about 830 grams with one hand all the time. Therefore, it is better to use the kickstand and lean it at your favorite angle.

Besides, when used in portrait, the Type-C port for power supply comes up or down, so it does not look good at the time of installation. Even if you use a stand or the like, it is difficult to keep it horizontal in the vertical direction because the part that seems to be the battery compartment at the bottom of the screen is in the way.

The battery is a concern when it is used for various purposes, with the screen still lit while it is being charged all the time. Such usage is terrible for batteries. However, this product has a feature called battery protection mode.

If this is turned on, the battery level will be maintained between 40-60%. This capacity is said to be the most friendly to batteries. It doesn't mean that the battery is completely empty, and it doesn't keep it fully charged.

It is a high-end product that is not cheap at all. It is very good for mental health that you do not have to worry that you will not be able to use the main unit just because the battery deteriorates.

Show things that get in the way of your PC work with Yoga Tab 13

Personally, I love the list of Twitter that collects only news accounts. Keeping this list displayed all the time is useful because general topics in the world are always scrolled. You can do that with TweetDeck on your computer desktop, but it's too fast to keep up with during the rush hour.

However, TweetDeck cannot be used on Android devices. However, I found an Android app called "Marindeck for Tweetdeck". With this app, TweetDeck screen auto-update scrolling will also be available on Android tablets.

When this happens, I want to use the screen vertically. The display is redundant if there is only one list on the side. However, it is not bad if you prepare two lists and display them side by side.

It's good to play movies and music videos all the time, but the fact that the Twitter timeline automatically plays is a unique way to use a tablet. This is not the case with smart displays.

I find that it seems better to look for ways to use the current tablet as an environment, rather than using it interactively. This is a usage that cannot be done on a computer or Chromebook. It can be an email screen or a schedule screen.

Actually, I want to keep it displayed, but I can leave it to the tablet side to get in the way of other work. It's an extension of awareness, so to speak.

Of course, the relatively large 13-inch screen placed horizontally is also good for use like a laptop computer. Not bad for online meetings. It's also a good idea to connect an external keyboard via Bluetooth. Even if you have a personal computer, it is often a problem if the screen is occupied by the online meeting application. So leave the meeting to your tablet and do the rest on your computer.

In some cases, both machines sign in to the same conference. If that doesn't work, connect the video output of your computer to your tablet to create a multi-display. This product will be useful for such a wide variety of usage.

Convenience that only information flows while remaining silent

However, there are times when I'm curious here. Many Android apps haven't been devised to optimize for the big screen of tablets. Many displays are too verbose to be used in landscape full screen. Some can only be displayed vertically. However, I'm not angry when I think that two vertically long Androids are lined up using the split screen function. It seems good to display and use two Android apps.

In addition, this product also has a function to display the Android application in portrait position vertically on a landscape screen, allowing flexible operation. There was a prejudice that it wouldn't be nice to be able to split it on such a small screen, but if it's difficult to use it on a vertical screen, I think there is such a way to use it.

Smartphones push awareness with sound and vibration. Smart watches are also used as an aid. But if you notice too much, it's just annoying to be notified by sound or vibration. That's why a personal smart display that stays lit all the time and allows information to flow silently is useful.

Although the tablet was recognized as a big smartphone, this Yoga Tab 13 seems to be trying to change its role and make new proposals in the midst of a little era. For that reason, it is inevitable that the tablet had to be a 13-inch tablet, which is in the large category. I'm sure it couldn't be bigger than that, and it couldn't be smaller.

Author: Shohei Yamada

Since the dawn of personal computers, he has contributed articles related to smart life to various newspapers as a freelance writer. From hardware, software, the Internet and cloud services to mobile, audio and gadgets, he continues to pursue new norms while proposing smart lifestyles. Authors of "Can Do Internet" and "Can Do Outlook" published by Impress. ■ Personal blog: Shohei Yamada's No Smart, No Life