Slideshow

Cisco's Cius business tablet: A visual tour

Cisco gets down to business with its Cius business tablet that will let you perform video conferencing and is optimized for apps such as WebEx Meeting Center.

  • Not So Slim



    In another [[xref:http://www.tecnografo.com/tecnolab/fotos-del-nuevo-cisco-cius/|Tecnografo photo|Fotos del nuevo Cisco Cius]], it's clear that the Cius is no iPad in terms of figure, but that's probably not the point. Besides, Cisco had to fit all those cameras in there somehow.
  • Cisco's Cius Business Tablet



    Cisco announced that it's making an Android tablet called the Cisco Cius, joining [[xref:http://www.pcworld.com/article/197961/android_tablets_on_show_by_foxconn_hardkernel.html|plenty|Android Tablets on Show by Foxconn, Hardkernel]] of [[xref:http://www.pcworld.com/article/197981/ipad_rivals_over_a_dozen_windows_and_android_tablets_shown_at_computex.html|other companies|iPad Rivals: Over a Dozen Windows and Android Tablets Shown at Computex]] who are working on ones of their own. But the Cius has a twist: This tablet is [[xref:http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/200101/cisco_announces_business_tablet.html|strictly business|Cisco Announces Business Tablet]], combining traditional office tasks with a portable, touch-screen display. Cisco won't start consumer trials of the tablet until the third quarter, with general availability coming in the first quarter of 2011. But let's take a closer look at what we know so far.
  • The Business Tablet



    Cisco's Cius is a 7-inch tablet with a 720p front-facing camera, which records video at 30 frames per second. It supports portrait and landscape modes with a built-in accelerometer, and those speakers look like they could handle [[xref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Puffy_Shirt|low-talkers|The Puffy Shirt]] with ease.
  • Take it Away



    Cius' base station looks like a key feature, but it's actually an optional accessory with full-sized USB ports and HDMI. Sure, you don't really need the handset during video conferences, but just imagine talking to clients on the phone while watching YouTube videos on the tablet.
  • Cloudy Software, With Hints of Android



    Cisco hasn't said much about the software platform except that it's "based on the Android operating system," with collaboration through the cloud as a focal point. Supported software from Cisco will include Quad, Show and Share, WebEx Connect, WebEx Meeting Center, Presence, and interoperability with Cisco TelePresence.
  • The Tablet Photographer



    [[xref:http://www.tecnografo.com/tecnolab/fotos-del-nuevo-cisco-cius/|The Website Tecnografo|Fotos del nuevo Cisco Cius]] spotted a prototype Cius tablet at Cisco's conference in Las Vegas, and snapped a few photos. Here, you can see the 5-megapixel, rear-facing camera, which can take pictures and stream VGA-quality video.
  • Made for Sharing



    The top of the Cius, [[xref:http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2010/corp_062910.html|in this Tecnografo photo|Cisco Simplifies Mobile Collaboration with First-of-its- kind HD Video-Capable Business Tablet]], shows off the tablet's Micro-USB connection for sharing media with PCs. Hopefully it won't come to that, because the Cius can connect via Bluetooth, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and 3G as well.
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