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Samsung hints at Windows laptop with Android phablet dock





Samsung's phablets may soon be able to work like full-sized laptop computers, once they are docked into a laptop-like shell being developed by the Korean electronics giant.
 
A patent for a phablet dock sought by Samsung before the US Patent and Trademark Office showed the dock can let the Android- or Tizen-based phablet run Windows in laptop mode.
 
With the patent, a phablet like the Galaxy Note running Android or Tizen can switch to Windows once connected to the laptop-like dock, Patently Mobile said.
 
"This new smartphone-notebook hybrid would allow the notebook to be able to access the Internet without needing a WiFi connection or a mobile Internet Key. The notebook would also be able to recharge the smartphone," it said.
 
One configuration has the phablet acting as a trackpad once it is connected to the laptop shell.
 
"So for busy executives or students on the go, this new hybrid device will have its appeal with many," it said.
 
Patently Mobile added this may challenge Apple's iPhone and iPad plus IBM MobileFirst strategy in the enterprise space, noting the new Galaxy S6 would come with apps like Microsoft's OneNote, OneDrive, Office Mobile and Skype.
 
For its part, Microsoft has begun promoting its new strategy: Mobile-First, Cloud-First computing, similar to the approach of Apple and IBM.
 
"In a way, by combining the Galaxy smartphone or Note phablet with a notebook shell, they've created a tool that could interest the enterprise because this future smartphone would run Android and Windows," it said.
 
Also, Patently Mobile noted Samsung reportedly worked with BlackBerry to bolster its Knox platform.
 
"The enterprise for the most part is familiar with the Windows platform and Office apps and now with their Mobile-First/Cloud-First platform combined with Samsung's popular hardware in this new form factor, it could be a winning force down the line," it added.
 
Timetable
 
But Patently Mobile noted it is not immediately clear when the device will hit store shelves.
 
It said Samsung filed its US patent application back in the third quarter of 2014.
 
"Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time," it said.
 
Battery, ports
 
But Patently Mobile said the patent is not quite clear on the notebook's battery, or ports.
 
What is clear for now is that the notebook-like device, without the traditional CPU, would be "lighter and slimmer."
 
"The idea of course is to challenge the iPad in a new form factor that many would prefer with a built in keyboard," it said. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News