If you pay even the slightest amount of attention to any technology-related website, you probably know that we are now less than 48 hours from the official kickoff of the 2012 Consumer Electronics Showcase, also known as CES. It looks like Lenovo has decided to kick things off a little early this year by announcing not one, not two, but three new Android-powered devices — each of which are sure to raise eyebrows and drop jaws. Say hello to the IdeaPad S2, S2 Smartphone, and the K91 — the world’s first smart tv to run Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich.

Lenovo IdeaPad s2

The Lenovo IdeaPad s2 is a 10.1-inch tablet powered by a Qualcomm 8x60A/8960 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (sorry, no quad-core love here). The device features 1280×800 IPS screen display, 1GB of  LP-DDR2 memory, and both WiFi and 3G connectivity, though there is no word yet on which carriers will offer the tablet. The IdeaPad s2 also totes a 1.3-megapixel “HD” front-facing camera and an 8-megapixel rear-facer with LED flash, and ships with Android 4.0 — that delicious Ice Cream Sandwich many of us have waited to taste for so long now.

In terms of weight, the IdeaPad S2 is one of the lightest tablets available today. At only 580g (or 1.27 pounds) and 8.69mm thin, we’re talking at about a very easy-to-hold tablet that’s sure to make Apple’s iPad cringe and head back to the drawing board for retaliation. The IdeaPad s2 is compatible with Lenovo’s “Personal Cloud” vision, which integrates hardware, software and personal cloud computing to offer a top-notch “always connected” user experience.

Lenovo S2 Smartphone

Of the three devices announced by Lenovo, the s2 smartphone, which is also compatible with the Personal Cloud, is the one that is sure to raise a few eyebrows — and not in a good way. Don’t get me wrong. The S2 does look to be a nice mid-level device, but it’s far from anything that is going to wow you. In fact, the specs are lackluster in comparison to any of the high-end devices already available. While no pricing info has been announced yet, this device will for just fine for anyone who doesn’t need a super computer in their pocket and just wants a device that is good enough to get the job done. Let’s start with the goods though, shall we?

The Lenovo S2 Smartphoneis powered a Qualcomm MSM8255 1.4GHz processor and features a 3.8-inch multi-touch capacitive touchscreen with a 800×480 TFT resolution. The device spec sheet lists an internal RAM of 512-megabytes and 1GB, noting that exact specifications will vary by region. The S2 works on WCDMA and HSPA+ networks, and features WLAN 802.11b/g/n for WiFi access.

The best feature the S2 offers, in my opinion, is the 8-megapixel camera with LED flash. I’ve been using an HTC Amaze 4G for the past few weeks, which also rocks an 8-megapixel camera. If the S2 produces images with quality even remotely close to that of the Amaze, consumers looking for a phone that takes great pictures might want to check into this.

That being said, there’s one deal-breaker here for me, and it’s sure to disappoint a few of you as well. No, the phone does not ship with ICS, rather it ships with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread is soooo 2010, Lenovo) painted over with Lenovo Magic 3.0 — the manufacturer’s custom skinned Android experience.  Come on, Lenovo. You’re adding to the fragmentation by shipping new devices with old software. That’s all I’m going to say about that matter.

Lenovo K91 Smart TV

I saved the Lenovo K91 Smart TV for last because it’s the one truly amazing device that really caught my attention in all of this. The K91 is the world’s first TV to pack a Qualcomm 8060 Snapdragon 1.5GHz processor; additionally, it’s the first smart TV to own the bragging rights of running Android 4.0 — now we’re talking, Lenovo! I’ll let you slide on the Gingerbread thing.

Again, this will be a manufacturer version of the Android 4.0 UI, called “Sandwich”. This user interface adds three major smart TV function: VOD, Internet apps and traditional TV programs, with Voice control technology based on Cloud allows the user to tell the remote control what to do. The K91 features a 55-inch LED, 240Hz refresh rate panel, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of internal storage.

Additionally, the K91 packs a 5-megapixel camera, facial recognition and child lock, making this one TV I’d love to see sitting in my living room. Stormy and I will be partying with Lenovo this week at CES and will keep our eyes peeled for one of these babies for sure. We’ll gladly pass on all the juicy deetz for those of you interested, so stay tuned.

Below is a full gallery of pics of all 3 devices and the full press release:

 

Four Screens Are Better than One with Lenovo’s New “Personal Cloud” Vision

Latest Product Development Links Gadgets in Pockets, Briefcases and Home

CES 2012, Las Vegas – January 8, 2012: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY), the world’s number two PC company, is flexing its innovation muscle at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show and beyond, to create a seamless digital experience for its customers across multiple devices, be it PCs, tablets, smartphones or Smart TVs. Lenovo recently unveiled its “Personal Cloud” vision, marking the transformation of the company from a “personal computer” manufacturer to a “personal cloud solution” provider that integrates hardware, software and cloud computing together. The Company’s direction is evident in a variety of new products, including the IdeaTab S2, Smartphone S2 and K91 smart TV.

“Lenovo is breaking down the barriers of device differentiation and weaving together hardware, software  and cloud services that are connected, experiential and dynamic,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president and president, Mobile Internet and Digital Home business group. “We understand our users need more than just the traditional keyboard and screen for a truly satisfying digital experience. Our Personal Cloud vision integrates all devices, from tablets to TVs, for a comprehensive mobile Internet experience anytime, anywhere.

IdeaTab S2 10 Struts New Specs and Multimedia Prowess

Thinner than its predecessors, the IdeaTab S2 10-inch is just one-third of an inch thin and at a featherlight 1.1lbs is one of the lightest 10-inch tablets available today. IdeaTab S2 features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8960 dual core CPU and Android 4.0 operating systems to offer a better multimedia experience. Running Lenovo Mondrian UI, the user-friendly IdeaTab S2 10” displays customized content and includes easy access to the Lenovo App Shop and the Android Market for thousands of useful apps such as Amazon Kindle, ooVoo, Angry bird and mSpot. Its detachable design, combined with a light keyboard dock, can deliver an incredible 20 hours of battery life, which is great for both entertainment and
productivity.

S2 Smartphone Boasts Security and Photography Creds

The S2 smartphone includes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon technology and Android 2.3 operating system. Both devices include a unique Kernel-level security system to protect personal data, prevent phishing, and control network and SMS traffic. Users can also take advantage of its 8MP super camera to capture amazing panoramic photos on the go. S2 is also ready for the Cloud, and instantly syncs photos, music, videos and personal information with a dedicated online storage space for easy sharing across multiple devices.

K91—the World’s First Smart TV to Run Android 4.0 OS

As the world’s first smart TV powered by QualComm’s 8060 Snapdragon dual core CPU, the K91 is also the world’s first smart TV running the Android 4.0 operating system – which will revolutionize technology in the living room. Its smart “Sandwich” UI unites three major smart TV functions, including Video On Demand (VOD), Internet applications and traditional TV programs. The online HD VOD is tailored to individual consumers’ viewing history, and delivers the best picture and audio quality with 3D FPR technology delivering flicker-free video on a full HD IPS panel at 240hz with SRS TruSurround. Internet applications include thousands of choices from the Android Market and Lenovo Store, including console games. Additional smart TV features include voice control with natural language processing and speech recognition technology, allowing viewers to use voice commands to control the remote. Video interaction is even possible with the built-in 5MP webcam, which integrates face recognition technology for security benefits and advanced parental control. With cloud support, consumers can access their favorite songs and videos with ease, share files between the TV and their tablet, smartphone or PC, and even control the TV via tablet and smartphone.

The IdeaTab S2 tablet, S2 smartphone and K91 smart TV are available immediately in China. Lenovo will
be releasing these products worldwide at a later date.

More information on these products is available at www.lenovo.com

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About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $US21 billion personal technology company – and the second largest PC company in the world, serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com.