Summary: Lenovo is betting that all laptop buyers will go multimode and meld tablets and PCs. To Lenovo, Yoga DNA should go everywhere.

Lenovo is making a big bet on convertible PCs and betting that consumers and businesses want one device that can do a bit of everything. Bottom line: Lenovo is taking its approach with its Yoga PC and infusing that DNA throughout its lineup.

You could say Lenovo is Yoga-tizing its product portfolio.

CNET Reviews: ThinkPad Yoga; IdeaPad Yoga 2 | Larry Seltzer:Windows 8 Hardware 2.0

Speaking on a conference call, Nick Reynolds, executive director of Lenovo Business Group, said that the company's goal is to reinvent the traditional clamshell laptop and make multimode devices the norm.

Here's the bet: PC buyers everywhere want to flip and fold their laptops as they use them for work and play.

The move is a bit gutsy given Windows 8 hasn't lived up to its advance billing and multimode devices are more of a novelty act today, but then again Lenovo is playing with a lead. It's the No. 1 PC maker now and branching out into mobility more than ever. Meanwhile, Lenovo has seen success with its hybrid PC-tablet approach and has been absorbing customer feedback on the Yoga.

Lenovo has 45 percent of the Windows 8 convertible market and now wants to own it. Here's a look at Lenovo's multimode army:

The Yoga 2 Pro. The Yoga, which appeared to be quirky but garnered a following, is now 10 percent lighter and can go into four modes with a higher resolution screen and software to optimize apps with the way the device is being used. The Yoga 2 Pro, which starts at $1,099, weighs 3.49 pounds and is 0.61 of an inch thick.

Excerpt from:
Lenovo doubles down on convertible PC bet; Yoga-tizes lineup

Last year's Windows 8 launch was accompanied by a slew of new Ultrabooks, tablets, and hybrid convertibles. Out of that bunch, one of the most interesting has been Lenovo's series of Yoga PCs. Like a yoga instructor, the Yoga PC bends, stretches, and flips into several different poses. If you've been eyeing that form factor but haven't yet pulled the trigger, then you might want to know that Lenovo just announced its first proper follow-up, the Yoga 2 Pro.

Nothing has changed in the new Yoga's form is the overall factor. We're still looking at the same four modes: tablet, laptop, tent, and stand (check out our Yoga 11S review for more on that). What has changed are the Yoga's guts. We're looking at upgraded components all around, making this year's version a much more powerful and attractive machine.

Want details, you say? Well, the biggest change in the Yoga 2 Pro is its display. It's still a 13.3-inch screen, but its resolution gets a huge upgrade to 3,200 x 1,800. That comes out to 276 pixels per inch (PPI), the highest density for a commercially-available screen of this size. By comparison, the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro has a density of 227 PPI, and the Chromebook Pixel packs in 239 PPI. Lenovo says that its display is four times brighter than the original model.

The new Yoga's display isn't the only area that saw an upgrade though. You can also buy a version with a new 4th-generation Intel Core Haswell processor, which should give its battery life a big boost (Lenovo claims up to six hours of full HD playback at 150 nits).

But there are subtle improvements to the form, too. The Yoga 2 Pro is lighter and thinner than its predecessor, measuring at 1.39 kg (3.06 lbs) and 15.5 mm (0.61") thick. It's rare to see a manufacturer upgrade a device's display and battery life, and still make the device thinner and lighter. All hail Intel's powerful and power-saving Haswell chips.

The hybrid also packs up to 8 GB of RAM, and it ships in solid-state drive options of 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. All models will run some version of Windows 8, with options of "up to" Windows 8.1 Pro.

The Yoga 2 Pro will be available starting in October with a price of 1,299 in Europe (that's about US$1,700). Yep, that crazy holiday season is already creeping up on us, and we imagine this will be just one of many new hybrid PCs we'll be seeing in the next few months.

Continued here:
Lenovo's new Yoga 2 Pro: Same versatile form factor, with upgrades all around

Lenovo makes more noise at IFA today, announcing two new ThinkPad Yoga models, the Flex thin-and-light series, and the Flex 20 portable all-in-one PC. Each of four new PCs will feature fourth-generation Intel Core processors (aka Haswell), but the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro is the most interesting, thanks to its 13-inch display that delivers an eye-popping resolution of 3200-by-1800-pixels.

The Yoga 2 Pro features the now-familiar dual-hinge design that allows the display to be oriented into four modes: Tent, stand, tablet, and laptop. But unlike previous models, this one will boast a 13-inch multi-touch display with native resolution of 3200 by 1800 pixels. The new chassis is also thinner and lighter than previous models, measuring 0.61 inches thick and weighing 3.06 pounds.

Processor choices will range up to a Core i7 with integrated graphics, coupled with up to 8GB of DDR3 memory. Storage options consist of 128, 256, or 512GB SSDs, and I/O ports include one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, micro HDMI, and an SD/MMC card reader.

The Yoga 2 Pro will be available in October at prices starting at $1100.

Many corporate IT departments eschew Lenovos consumer-oriented IdeaPad product line, a policy that left a lot of suits disappointed that they couldnt pack the earlier IdeaPad Yoga 11Sor Yoga 13 in their briefcases.

That barrier should disappear with the ThinkPad Yoga, a rugged convertible featuring a magnesium-alloy shell, a 12.5-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen, and a lift-and-lock keyboard that automatically retracts the keyboard to present a flush surface when the notebook is placed in tablet mode.

The ThinkPad Yoga will be available with Intel Core i3, Core i5, or Core i7 CPUs and up to 8GB of DDR3/1600 memory. In spite of its 0.74-inch thickness, the machine will be outfitted with a 1TB hard drive as standard equipment, with a 256GB SSD as an available option. The ThinkPad version of the Yoga will be limited to 1920 by 1080 resolution, but it will be available with an optional Wacom pen digitizer. It will also get a better collection of I/O ports, including two USB 3.0 ports and a four-in-one card reader in addition to mini HDMI.

The ThinkPad Yoga will be available in November at prices starting at $949.

Its easy to mistake the Lenovo Flex, available in 14- and 15-inch configurations, for the Yoga series, but theres a key difference. The display on the Flex series pivots only 300 degrees. You can position it to face forward to watch a movie or make it easier to use the touchscreen, but you cant pivot it into tablet mode.

The Flex 15s display delivers full 1920 by 1080 resolution, but the 14-inch model is limited to 1366 by 768 pixels. Discrete Nvidia mobile graphics will be offered as options. Both models will be available with up to Intel Core i7 CPUs and up to 8GB of memory. Storage comes in the form of mechanical hard drives (up to 500GB for the Flex 14, and up to 1TB for the Flex 15), with 16GB SSD cache drives as available options. The Flex line will also be thicker and heavier than the Yoga series, with the 15-inch model measuring 0.87 inches thick and weighing 5.07 pounds.

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Lenovo reveals the Flex laptop series, a pair of new Yogas, and the Flex 20 all-in-one PC

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Manduka, purveyor of high performance yoga gear and the #1 choice of yoga teachers worldwide, debuted today its latest collection of innovative products, inspiring color ways and a community-centric digital campaign for Fall: Go There. Fueled by yoga's ability to catalyze personal growth and transformation, Go There will move the community to try more, trust more and feel more during their practice and beyond. The campaign is grounded in Manduka's Fall color collection, featuring the redesigned eKO Series for ultimate grip, sweaty or dry, making it the best wet-grip mat on the market.

Kicking off September 9 and continuing over the course of eight weeks, Manduka will inspire members of the yoga community to embrace their greatest potential through bi-weekly challenges. Taking cues from the strength of its Fall color ways including Thrive (green), Verve (maroon), Embrace (pink) and Indulge (deep purple), Manduka will reveal a theme and invite yogis to truly Go There in their expression of it.Participants are asked to share a photo of their interpretation via Instagram using #LetsGoThere and @MandukaYoga or through a special tab at Manduka's Facebook page. At the end of each entry period one winner will be selected to receive a suite of Go There gifts featuring items from that color theme with one grand prize winner earning a Go There scholarship.

"Yoga helps us push our boundaries and experience outside our comfort zone - that's what our Go There campaign is really about," said Sky Meltzer, CEO of Manduka. "It is also a core value of our business and is seen in all aspects of our design process. Our new eKO mat pushes the boundaries of design and performance, offering those who practice sweaty forms of yoga the ultimate wet-grip performance."

New for Fall, Manduka's freshly redesigned eKO line of yoga mats feature an innovative rippled water pattern. Offering unparalleled grip to perform even in the sweatiest (or rainiest) conditions, the new eKO line provides exceptional comfort and performance while maintaining its steadfast commitment to the environment. Manduka eKO mats are made entirely from non-Amazon harvested, biodegradable tree rubber, using non-toxic foaming agents and AZO-free dyes in a totally emissions-free manufacturing process.

Manduka's new colors will be available in a variety of skus including:

The complete collection can be found here: http://www.manduka.com/fall-lookbook

For more information, please visit: http://www.manduka.com join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mandukayoga or follow us @MandukaYoga

About Manduka Founded in 1997, Manduka was built on the simple idea that a better yoga mat can make a world of difference. Manduka strives to support and enrich the yoga community by providing premium quality mats and products while respecting employees, customers, materials, and the environment.Created for and by yoga enthusiasts, Manduka's technical and purpose-driven product designs meet and often exceed the distinct needs of all practitioners.Today Manduka's products, which include yoga mats, towels, yoga straps, water bottles, and bags, are sold in more than 35 countries around the world. Not only focusing on superior design, Manduka also promotes their ethos of quality, thoughtfulness and sustainability in all realms of their business.

Contact: Marci Mollins Swift marci.mollins@swift.co 310-464-0887

Originally posted here:
Manduka Challenges Yoga Community To Embrace Their Greatness With Daring New Collection And #LetsGoThere Campaign

Lenovo introduced a new wave of Yoga hybrids, shaving off size and weight so the devices are lighter when used as tablets, and faster in laptop mode.

The new Yoga hybrids include the 13.3-inch Yoga 2 Pro and 12.5-inch ThinkPad Yoga, which also have higher resolution touchscreens and faster processors than the first Yoga systems that started shipping in October last year.

[ InfoWorld has your top picks: the best Windows 8 tablet laptops, convertibles, and Ultrabooks. | For a quick, smart take on the news you'll be talking about, check out InfoWorld TechBrief -- subscribe today. ]

Yoga's design lets people turn its screen around almost 360 degrees to turn the laptop into a tablet, different from other hybrids that come with detachable keyboards or swivelling screens.

The Yoga 2 Pro is 15.5 millimeters thick, and weighs 1.36 kilograms, which is 0.22 kilograms lighter than the Yoga 13, an earlier model. But perhaps the biggest improvement is the optional 3200 x 1800-pixel screen, whose resolution is among the highest in laptops.

"We've made it better in almost every way," said Nick Reynolds, executive director, Lenovo Business Group, adding that reducing the weight makes it a more usable Windows 8 tablet.

The Yoga 2 Pro will start at US$1,099. Lenovo is estimating anywhere between six to nine hours of battery life. It will come with Intel's fourth-generation Core processors and up to 512GB of solid-state drive storage.

The ThinkPad Yoga, which will start at $949, is designed for professionals who need more storage or docking capabilities. It also has ruggedness and security features found on other ThinkPad laptops. System administrators will be able to remotely control them.

The ThinkPad Yoga will have up to 1TB of hard-drive storage. An optional stylus will be available. The hybrid can be configured with 1920 x 1080, or 1366 x 768 resolution screens. Other features include two USB 3.0 ports, a mini-HDMI slot and NFC (near-field communication) hardware.

The computer also has a feature in which the keys rise and lock into the chassis as the screen is folded into tablet mode. The keys integrate into the chassis, making it easier to use the hybrid when in tablet mode. This feature is not available on the Yoga 2 Pro, in which keys do not go up, and users can feel the keyboard when holding the hybrid in tablet mode.

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Lenovo's Yoga hybrids strike a lighter, sleeker pose

Gabriel Axel

I began my journey as an aspiring neuroscientist determined to understand the basis of what makes us human. What was our most fundamental essence that allowed us to be, express and function in all the wondrous ways that we do? I knew the answer had to lie in the brain, the most complex and mysterious organ in the body and the one that held the most promise for unearthing the origin of our unique species. I toured universities in the U.S. and Europe, studying and conducting research looking for answers. I devoured every piece of knowledge I studied, mesmerized by the wonders of the brain.

I was looking for consciousness itself. I realized after some time, however, that consciousness itself was not to be limited to being found in the brain. All human endeavors that have ever reached greatness from elite athleticism and creative genius to humble expressions of grace through service have touched a deep strand of humanness, lodged within the metaphorical heart. As amazing as the brain was, I knew that consciousness this essence for which I was searching had to be lived and directly experienced.

[Read: Yoga for People Who Are Overweight or Obese.]

I wanted some activity I could incorporate regularly that would help me develop physically, mentally and emotionally, and also touch this ineffable essence itself. My busy schedule of study and research at the time did not allow for simultaneously doing various workouts and activities to these ends, so I set the intention of finding a single activity that would address these needs together. This was the pivotal moment when I found yoga. Yoga struck a deep chord in me. There were marked increases, both immediate and long-term, in physical strength and flexibility, mental calm and overall peace both inside and outside the actual practice. I was hooked.

Neuroscience has repeatedly demonstrated the capacity of the brain to rewire itself through experience, known as neuroplasticity. In a practical sense this means that every moment of experience creates grooves in the landscape of the brain, which then affects the way we relate to the minds and bodies of ourselves and others, as well as to the environment around us. The good news is that a changeable brain is a hackable brain in other words, by understanding some of the rules of brain function, it is possible to learn how to use its capacities more effectively in order to deliberately bring about positive change.

[Read: Yoga With Down Syndrome: Sarah Schaffer's Story.]

I discovered along the path that this deliberate act is part and parcel of yoga. Yoga is a scientific technology that harnesses the innate capability of the body as a vehicle for transformation. It is a technology, a human art, purposefully crafted to serve as a tool for maximizing the health and potential of the human being. Yoga has been popularized by its physical aspects, which are an integral component of the larger science of yoga. The system as a whole, which includes techniques that address many aspects of the human being, works the brain and nervous system in a synchronized and harmonious manner. The techniques are manifold, but they are based on core principles. These can be unpacked in a digestible manner using exercises that improve fitness and well-being if appropriately applied.

[Read: Yoga for People in Wheelchairs.]

Yoga starts as the process of harnessing the brain's capacities and naturally evolves into the art of living well. As negative habits, patterns and influences within ourselves and from the outside are progressively dropped in favor of more sustainable ones, yoga can become a way of life it becomes not about what we do, but how we do things. The principles of yogic science and brain science mesh together to create a blueprint for transformation. There is tremendous power in combining a technology that has stood the test of thousands of years of human evolution with a rigorous science of the most complex and fascinating organ in the human body.

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Your Brain on Yoga: A Blueprint for Transformation

We go hands-on with business and consumer Yoga systems, plus a tabletop PC, a new line of semi-hybrids, and more.

As part of the IFA flood of new laptops, tablets, and other products, Lenovo is introducing a new PC line, as well as serious revisions to the popular Yoga hybrid. Also new, an Android tablet called the S5000 and a phone called the Vibe X, both of which claim to be especially lightweight.

Below you'll find links to hands-on impressions, photos, and video of Lenovo's new PC lineup, including a high-res update of the popular Yoga hybrid, and a brand new Yoga version from the ThinkPad brand, which includes a keyboard update that's been on our wish list for some time.

IdeaPad Flex 14 The IdeaPad Flex line, available in 14- and 15-inch versions, doesn't fold all the way back into a tablet like the Yoga does. This is more of a laptop with some extra flexibility, bending its screen back by 300 degrees to allow for what we've been calling a kiosk mode, with the screen pointing out from the rear of the laptop, away from the keyboard and touch pad. Read our First Take and see hands-on video here.

IdeaPad Flex 20 Unlike earlier tabletop PC such as the HP Rove 20 and original Sony Vaio Tap 20, which both weigh around 12 pounds, the $899 Flex 20 is closer to 8 pounds. That's about the same as Sony's just-announced 21-inch Tap 21, and a little more than Dell's excellent, and extremely thin, 18-inch XPS 18. Read our First Take and see hands-on video here.

IdeaPad Yoga 2 Pro How do you top the much-loved original? In the case of the just-announced Yoga 2 Pro, the star of the show is an ultra-high-res 13.3-inch display, with a native resolution of 3,200x1,800 pixels. That puts the Yoga 2 in similar territory to the Toshiba Kirabook, Retina MacBook Pro, Chromebook Pixel, Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus, and a handful of others. Read our First Take and see hands-on video here.

The keyboard recedes into the body and is locked in tablet mode.

ThinkPad Yoga Lenovo has a new take on the Yoga that should make a lot of people very happy. This new ThinkPad-branded model has a seriously engineered keyboard and chassis that pulls the keys into the body as you fold it over backward into tablet mode. Read our First Take and see hands-on video here.

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Lenovo offers new Yoga hybrids, a new Flex line of PCs, and more