What you need to know to survive.
20 11
1st QTR
thingsguide.com
2011 TABLET GUIDE
THE TABLET WARS HAVE BEGUN.
EDITOR IN CHIEF/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Brian Miller
THINGSGUIDE MAGAZINE IS A PUBLICATION OF BAM! MULTIMEDIA INC.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN THINGSGUIDE MAGAZINE, SEND AN E-MAIL TO INFO@THINGSGUIDE.COM TO RECEIVE A RATE SHEET.
CONTENTS
Welcome to the Thingsguide special edition 2011 tablet guide. This is a live document for the top tablet model specs for this year and will be updated on a regular basis. Visit www.facebook.com/thingsguide to see if you are reading the most current version.
Please visit www.thingsguide.com for future guides for Video Games, Movies, Food, Cars, Gadgets, and other special releases.
All photos used are property of their respective owners. Company trademarks are property of their respective owners. All specs marked with an asterisk* is speculative information from web resources.
1st QTR
20 11
0003
Feature
tablet
wars The
have
begun.
In the race to get the biggest chunk of the market, Apple’s iPad has an amazingly strong lead. Will the other companies that want a piece of the market be able to catch up?
After Apple’s iPad launched, every company that had any business making computers announced a tablet as fast as you could blink your eye. Rumors flew rampant, and some designs never made it out the prototype stage or off of the drawing board. For example, the Microsoft Courier, had been leaked to the masses and had a very creative design. Two side-by-side screens would have provided endless possibilities of streamlining workflow, with one concept allowing the user to have a web browser open in one screen, an another panel with a handwriting notes application next to it, for efficient note-taking. Needless to say, the Internet blogs were in an uproar when it was announced that the Courier was merely a concept. After that, the Internet was flooded by prototypes and suggestions that could top Apple’s iPad. Arguments against the iPad ranged from “Why doesn’t it have cameras?”, to “You can’t print from it?”, and while these were some valid arguments at the time, most of them were made obsolete with either a third party App store program, or a firmware update. Developers are writing programs that fill almost every void that was found on the launch iPad. Much of the other needs are alleviated through the ability to download previously purchased iPhone and iPod Touch apps, and fill the iPad screen through pixel-doubling, for those people that had been using the app store already.
0004
1st QTR
20 11
Other companies are trying to take advantage of the missing features of the first-generation iPad, and have created tablets that have front and rear cameras for video chat, USB ports for connecting external storage, HDMI output, and removable storage slots. While these features definitely add functionality, they do come at a cost. Battery life, speed, and lower price points are being sacrificed. Holiday 2010 ishaped up to be the first real start of the skirmish between tablet makers, and the major casualty with buying the cheap sub-$300 Android tablets in 2010 were uneducated consumers, and the tablets big brother, the netbook which has lost sales. Netbooks exist in the middle ground between the phone and the laptop, but they don’t do a very good job at it. Although inexpensive, they are also slow, and unable to handle intensive applications like the notebook or laptop can. The only real advantage they have over a tablet is that they possess a physical keyboard, but even that is able to be accomplished with a custom tablet case that will hold a keyboard, or by purchasing a keyboard dock, or a wireless keyboard. Tablets are going to rule the niche market which was held by Netbooks, but they are also going to create a new market which consists of people looking for the ease of having a simple computer that they can hold in their hands after a long day at work, in a comfortable area. This is going to open up a family to be able to share technology in a more comfortable setting. The tablet is going to be a great resource for parents studying with kids, families sharing photos together, watching movies in a vehicle or hotel room, or making the Internet a comfortable hands-on experience, rather than people taking turns on the family desktop computer or laptop. The tablet is going to exist as an add on device for a lot of families, which will return the use of the main computer in the house to another family member. In most ways however, the tablet will not be able to replace the laptop or desktop exclusively. A tablet will be an avenue to access the Internet, visit Facebook, watch movies or stream TV shows, read books or PDFs, browse photos, and other simple functions, but more complex tasks like using specific programs like Quickbooks or complex Video editing applications will be unable to run directly on a tablet. By contrast, a tablet can
2011 TABLET PREVIEW
accomplish more than what it is capable of when bought, through the purchase of applications or “apps” that are normally located on the tablet through an “app store” or “market” program. Everything from handling office documents, drawing vector objects, simple editing of photos, and even remote control of a computer can be made possible through special apps. It is through these apps, that a tablet can transform from being only a consumption device, into becoming a creation device. The Windows-based tablets will fill some of the need to have a tablet that can have more intensive or special programs installed on them, but the specifications of the first generation of tablets that will run Windows 7 are going to be somewhat slow, until pricing comes down on the components needed to make them run faster. There will always be a price point, I’ll say, around $900, where it no longer makes sense to purchase a tablet at that price, and go for a small notebook or laptop in the $600 - $1000 range, to get better performance. Typically, at $800, a laptop will have around 10 times the speed and storage space over a tablet at the same price. It is important to identify what you will be using the tablet for before making a purchase. If you already have a laptop that you use daily in traveling, a tablet will usually not be able to replace that. The flip-side is that you may be using a laptop, when all you need is a tablet. This is especially true for business people that are merely viewing word, excel, or PowerPoint documents, need to have a contact list at their side at all times, or need to view and send corporate e-mail. These users would greatly benefit from the use of a tablet, rather than drag around a large awkward laptop or notebook. In the new environment where tablets are going to be paraded around in stores, or might even be handed over to you to play with by a store employee, make sure you are ready to know what your are looking for, and what price you should be paying for the features that you want. On the next few pages, a summary of the major tablet types will be summarized, and then the major tablets of 2011 will be outlined so you can get an idea of the features that are available from different tablet makers. 1st QTR
20 11
0005
Feature
TABLET OPERATING SYSTEMS
Apple iPad - running iOS software version 4.3 Apple devices run versions of the mobile operating system known as iOS, which is custom created to run on all of the Apple mobile products. Apple is one of the few companies which creates both the hardware and software from scratch, and tries to ensure that they work in tandem for the best possible performance through extensive testing. They are super picky about the perfect “user experience” that the device runs in a virtual state of lock-down. For the average consumer, the iPad will be a very satisfying product, and the chains that protect iOS will be of no concern to them. For some power users however, a Linux or Android tablet that is more “open” is more appealing for being customizable. The newest software version, iOS 4.3, was released in March 2011, has been the most beneficial to iPad users. Built-in wireless printing, the media streaming AirPlay function, multitasking, application folders, new security features, and a unified inbox are the highlights here. The update is free, and software updates will continue to be at no cost until the next major software revision, iOS 5.0 (estimated at $10-$20 to upgrade). The best part about the iPad software is that the updates are available for every user and will work on every model of iPad. The iOS software includes access to the Apple app store, which has served as a source for users to add functionality to their device through either free or paid apps, as well as to browse an electronic book store. The iPad currently holds the best rating on battery life (around 9-10 hours), but this could be a margin that narrows in the upcoming year. The big downfalls to the iPad for some users has been the lack of cameras that could have been used for video chats, and the support for flash. The camera is rumored to be added on the second generation of iPad, which could come to market as soon as spring this year, and Flash could be forced onto Apple, but only if they start to lose their healthy lead directly because of not supporting Flash, while the iPad competitors will be able to process flash enabled websites. Tablets running Google Android OS
0006
1st QTR
20 11
Just like their phone counterparts, tablets running a version of the Android OS will proliferate like bunnies into the market. This is because of the nature of the operating system being open and free for manufacturers to customize and place on their device. However, this means that a consumer must be very careful that their tablet is going to do everything they want at launch, and not rely on a future update, because there is a chance that it may never come. In order, the versions of Android operating systems have gone with creative code names, such as Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Frozen Yogurt (Froyo), Gingerbread, and future releases of Honeycomb, and Ice Cream. For all intensive purposes, the question you should ask before buying an Android tablet is, “Does it or will it eventually run Honeycomb?” The version of the Android OS with code name “Honeycomb” will be the first version of the software that will be truly tablet-friendly. A number of tablet manufacturers are waiting until early 2011 to release their Android tablet with Honeycomb pre installed. So if you plan on buying an android tablet without the newest OS, the wise investment would be to make sure that it will eventually get a free update to run Honeycomb at some point in it’s future. The Android OS also has a “Market” with either free or paid apps to install on the Android based tablets. Android users do not have access to the Apple app store, and vice versa, but developers are now keen to develop their software on both platforms. The advantage of the Android OS is the ability to run flash, but other features will vary heavily based on manufacturer and price points.
Tablets running Windows 7 Windows 7 running on a tablet is going to be very tricky, because while the windows 7 OS has been engineered to use less resources when needed, it will run programs slowly that require a lot of system resources to be efficient. If someone is looking forward to buying a tablet to do advanced photo editing or video editing for example, they will be disappointed that the tablet is running very sluggish in those tasks, if even at all. By the time you pay for a tablet with features that could do these tasks, you could have bought a very nice, fast laptop that would be perfect for these applications. The other problem is that the Windows 7 operating system is not designed to be used as a touch interface, and so any appearance that the tablet is working well with touch buttons or menus means that it is running a custom version of software which is using a certain amount of system memory and resources to run. Microsoft could choose to release a tablet-friendly version of Windows 7 but it is highly unlikely until Windows 8 is released around 2013.
Hewlett Packard Tablets running Web OS software Palm had been a longtime creator of great feature filled phones and other mobile devices, and excelled at making software that was purely designed on touch, but never seemed to gain enough market share after the Android OS was released. In the middle of 2010, their fate seemed uncertain. However, in a very strategic move, Hewlett-Packard put a bid in and acquired Palm and their software technology. HP has decided to use the strength and user friendly WebOS operating system that Palm originally developed on future tablets that HP will make this year. With the combination of great hardware, and very user-friendly software, HP is poised to become a sleeping giant when they come to market around spring with the HP TouchPad.
Blackberry Playbook running BlackBerry Tablet OS Very soon, Research In Motion, the company best known in the business world for making the BlackBerry smartphone, will release a tablet named the BlackBerry Playbook. Sporting a 7” screen, and coming in as the thinnest tablet, it will also tout flash support and include front and rear cameras with a mini HDMI Jack for HD output. If you are familiar with the blackberry phones and how they connect and sync with corporate accounts, then the Playbook will be similar. Not much else is known other than the fact that RIM is not going to be silent in the tablet war, and will begin marketing their tablet as heavily as they do with their phones. 7” may be a smaller size, but it will try to take command of the space between the size of a smartphone and the iPad 9.7” screen. There may even be some useful cross-compatibility when you also own a BlackBerry phone, making the Playbook very desirable to companies that currently issue BlackBerry products to their employees. Some of the stand out features are the dual-core processor, 1080p playback, and future support of the 4G cellular network.
1st QTR
20 11
0007
Feature
Apple iPad 2
At a glance: Developer: Apple Computer, Inc. Manufacturer: Foxconn Website: www.apple.com/ipad Release Date: March 11, 2011 (USA) March 25, 2011 (Global) Price: $499 - $829 depending on model Operating System: iOS 4.3 Official Accessories: iPad Smart Cover (10 different colors/types) iPad Digital A/V Connector (HDMI) iPad Keyboard Dock iPad Case iPad Dock iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter iPad Camera Connection Kit iPad 10W USB Power Adapter
images Courtesy of Apple
With the iPad standing tall as the tablet king going into 2011, there is simply no reason that the iPad 2 will not succeed as well. Even though the iPad is packed full of great features, the one main advantage that it has is price. And with component prices slowly coming down for Apple over the past year, iPad 2 is able to offer some upgraded features, and remain at the same price as the original. New features include a much thinner design, more RAM for gaming, front and back cameras for facetime, enhanced wide-range stereo speaker, and dual core processor for 1080p video playback. Apple is offering the original iPad at $100 off to continue undercutting their competition. The iPad platform will continue to be the leader going into the end of 2011 because of adoption by corporate and educational institutions, and the great battery life and price that continues to outperform the other tablets in the market so far.
Services: iTunes Store Apple App Store MobileMe iBookstore
Specifications Processor Graphics Display
Apple A5 (1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9) PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology 1024 x 768 RAM at least 512 MB RAM Dimensions 9.5” x 7.31” x 0.34” Weight 1.3 lbs. Storage Memory 16GB 32GB 64GB Battery 10 + hours constant use Colors
0008
White/Black
1st QTR
20 11
Wireless Connectivity UMTS/HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) CDMA (800, 1900) GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology Wired Connectivity Apple Dock connector port HDMI out via Apple Digital AV Connector Video Formats MPEG4 H.264 Motion JPG MOV Other Formats WebKit Cameras VGA Resolution Front 1MP Rear Special Features 3G models for Verizon and AT&T Larger rear speaker 3-axis Gyro
BlackBerry PlayBook
At a glance: Developer: Research In Motion Manufacturer: Quanta - Taiwan Website: us.blackberry.com/playbook-tablet Release Date: Early 2011 Price: $499 - $699 depending on model* Operating System: BlackBerry Tablet OS Official Accessories: BlackBerry Charging Pod BlackBerry Zip Sleeve BlackBerry Soft Shell BlackBerry Leather Sleeve BlackBerry Slip Case BlackBerry Hard Shell BlackBerry Folding Blade Charger BlackBerry Rapid Charger BlackBerry Leather Envelope BlackBerry Book Binder BlackBerry Convertible Case
The upcoming Playbook tablet by RIM could become a cash-cow in the corporate market, because of its size, and because most businesses that currently use blackberry smartphones for their employees will already be able to get other blackberry devices through their corporate sales channels. Most likely, the Playbook will not make a huge splash in the retail market because of other tablets that will probably be cheaper, but look for a lot of businesspeople to get excited if the Playbook gets connectivity to their blackberry phone. With a 7” screen, a microHDMI port, and 1080p playback, the Playbook will be comfortable to travel with. Some other specs include support for Flash, dual HD cameras, and a dualcore processor.
Services: BlackBerry Application Store BlackBerry Enterprise Server Wireless BlackBerry smartphone connection
Specifications Processor Graphics Display
1 GHz dual-core processor To be Determined 7” LCD display 1024 x 600 screen resolution RAM 1 GB RAM Dimensions 5.1” x 7.6” x 0.4” Weight 0.9 lbs. Storage Memory 16GB 32GB 64GB Battery
Wireless Connectivity 3G 4G Wi-Fi® 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR Wired Connectivity Micro USB Micro HDMI Video Formats 1080p HD video H.264 MPEG4 WMV HDMI video output Other Formats POSIX OS, SMP, Open GL, BlackBerry® 6, WebKit, Adobe Flash, Java® and Adobe Mobile AIR Cameras 3MP Front, 5MP Rear Special Features Wirelessly connect to your BlackBerry® smartphone* for real time access to: Email, calendar, address book, task list and BBM 1st QTR
20 11
0009
Feature
HP TouchPad
At a glance: Developer: Hewlett Packard Manufacturer: HP facility in Chongquing or Shanghai Website: www.palm.com/us/products/pads/ touchpad/index.html Release Date: Summer 2011 Price: To be Determined Operating System: HP WebOS Official Accessories: Touchstone TouchPad Case Wireless Keyboard Services: HP WebOS App Catalog
Hewlett-Packard is using their acquisition of Palm to full advantage, and introduced a tablet that has a great user interface, and quality HP hardware behind it. The tablet should be around 10 inches, and should be a successful rival to the iPad and top Android tablets in functionality and quality. HP’s tablet will also have minimal buttons, a front-facing camera, run 1080p video, and should arrive sometime in March. Things that will set this tablet apart from all the others are the ingenious induction charging method by using the TouchStone accessory, which requires no cables to charge the tablet. The new HP pre phone models were demoed transferring website links and photos by merlying touching the two devices together. The HP and Palm engenerring has already shown a lot of promise and if you are dead-set against apple products, this tablet may be the next best thing.
Specifications Processor
1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon (Qualcomm APQ8060) Graphics integrated Adreno 220 graphics engine Display 9.7-inch XGA capacitive, multitouch screen, 18-bit color 1024x768 resolution display RAM To be Determined Dimensions 9.45” x 7.48” x 0.54” Weight 1.6 lbs. Storage Memory 16GB 32GB Battery Rechargeable 6300 mAh
00010
1st QTR
20 11
Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n with WPA WPA2 WEP 802.1X authentication Bluetooth® wireless technology 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support Wired Connectivity Charger/microUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Video Formats MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 Other Formats DRM-free MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, QCELP, WAV Cameras 1.3MP Front Special Features Light sensor, accelerometer, compass (magnetometer), and gyroscope
Motorola Xoom
At a glance: Developer: Motorola Mobility, Inc. Manufacturer: Lanta Tablet Co LTD* Website: www.motorola.com/Consumers/ US-EN/Consumer-Product-andServices/Tablets/ci.MOTOROLAXOOM-US-EN.overview Release Date: February 24, 2011 Price: $799 Operating System: Android 3.0 - Honeycomb Official Accessories: Motorola Wireless Keyboard Standard Dock Premium Dock w/ speakers +USB Hub Portfolio Case Services: Android Market Google Maps 5.0 with 3D interaction
Motorola is another company who has found new life with the Android OS, and like HTC will want to enter the tablet market as soon as they can to get a chunk of market share. Their Xoom tablet will have some impressive features like capturing 720p HD video with the rear camera, and the ability to edit and share the video directly from the tablet. It is touting being the first tablet with a dual-core processor, and the first tablet with Android 3.0 Honeycomb installed. It will also be ready for Verizon’s 4G cell network. A standard dock for charging will be available for the Xoom, as well as premium dock with speakers, 3 USB ports, HDMI out, and stereo speakers for a portable multimedia experience. A bluetooth keyboard, and a portfolio case will also be offered.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display
NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core 1 GHz 1 GB RAM 10.1 WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution display RAM 1 GB DDR2 RAM Dimensions 9.81” x 6.61” x 0.51” Weight 26 oz Storage Memory 32 GB microSDHC up to 32GB Battery Up to 10 hour video playback
Wireless Connectivity EVDO Rev. A Wi-Fi® 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth® wireless technology 2.1 + EDR + HID Wired Connectivity USB 2.0 High Speed HDMI 1.4 Video Formats AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, H.263, H.264, MP3, MPEG-4 Other Formats OPENGL WebKit w/ Flash Cameras 2MP Front, 5MP Rear w/ dual LED Flash Special Features 3-Axis Accelerometer, Compass Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor Gyroscope, Barometer 1st QTR
20 11
00011
Feature
ASUS Eee Pad Slider
At a glance: Developer: ASUS Manufacturer: To be Determined Website: http://ces2011.asus.com/pressrelease/asus-tablet-computersproviding-choice-throughinnovation-at-ces-2011/ Release Date: April - March 2011 Price: $499 - $799 depending on version Operating System: Android 3.0 - Honeycomb Official Accessories: To be Determined Services: Android Marketplace
The flagship Eee Pad will be a 12 inch tablet, but the Eee Pad Slider will be a 10.1 in. Android tablet. This Eee Pad seems poised to replace tablet notebooks by offering a built-in sliding keyboard while retaining a tablet form factor. ASUS will run a custom Android skin called “My Way” which uses a streamlined theme for viewing music, photo slideshows, and video streaming. The steaming app is DLNA ready, and can stream to any other DLNA ready device, like some TV’s or your game console. Reports are that the keyboard is a little cramped, but may serve as the perfect segway to move from your underpowered tablet or netbook. However, like most phones with a slide out keyboard, you may soon realize that you could have became accustomed to the on-screen keyboard, so be sure to test out a Slider before purchasing. ASUS will also offer a model called Eee Pad Transformer, which will not have a keyboard.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display
NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor To be Determined 10.1 LCD WSVGA 1280 x 800 RAM 512 MB RAM 1 GB RAM Dimensions 10.75” x 7.09” x 0.70” Weight 2.2 lbs. Storage Memory 16GB 32GB Battery 16 hrs.*
00012
1st QTR
20 11
Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi® 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth® wireless technology 2.1 + EDR Wired Connectivity mini USB mini HDMI Video Formats To be Determinedv Other Formats HTML, HTML5, XHTML, Adobe Flash Cameras 1.2MP Front, 5MP Rear w/ LED Flash Special Features Slide-out QWERTY Keyboard multiformat card reader
HTC Flyer
At a glance: Developer: HTC Corportation (formerly High Tech Computer Corporation) Manufacturer: To be Determined Website: To be Determined Release Date: around March 2011 Price: To be Determined Operating System: Android 2.3 w/ HTC Sense, upgradeable to Honeycomb Official Accessories: To be Determined Services: To be Determined
HTC is one of those manufacturers that has really benefited from the Android operating system, and they continually provide quality hardware at good prices. Their mobile phone selection can be found on all of the major cell phone providers in the US, and they won’t stand back much longer before getting into the tablet game. The Flyer should have a 7 inch screen, come with a stylus, and 3G cell network connectivity with front and rear cameras for running Skype on the road. HDMI should also be included, along with a new version of HTC’s Sense UI redesigned for tablets. A 10 inch version that may have another name, and could possibly run on Verizon’s 4G network, should also be released sometime this year.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display RAM Dimensions Weight Storage Memory Battery
Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon processor* To be Determined 7-inch screen at 1024x600* 1GB RAM To be Determined To be Determined 4GB ROM* To be Determined
Wireless Connectivity GSM radios with 14.4 HSUPA/5.76HSDPA* Wi-Fi® 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth® wireless technology 2.1 + EDR Wired Connectivity To be Determined Video Formats Adobe Flash Other Formats To be Determined Cameras 1.3MP Front, 5MP Rear* Special Features DLNA* HTC Sense UI
1st QTR
20 11
00013
Feature
Notion Ink Adam
At a glance: Developer: Notion Ink (India) Manufacturer: Unspecified Chinese Factory Website: www.notionink.com Release Date: January 21, 2011 Price: LCD and WiFi: $375.33 LCD, WiFi, and 3G: $425.33 Pixel Qi and Wifi: $499.45 Pixel Qi, Wifi, and 3G $549.99 Operating System: Custom Android 2.3 Gingerbread w/ EDEN overlay interface future Honeycomb port incoming Official Accessories: No official to date. third-party available Services: To be determined
Notion Ink is a promising startup firm from India, and has packed quite a bit of features into their Adam tablet and got a lot of people excited who were waiting to get a tablet other than the iPad. The Adam has hit a few snags with delays and some firmware issues right off the bat, but Notion Ink worked very hard to correct these issues and is now shipping the Adam. With a 10 inch screen, and an ingenious rubberized top edge, its is actually comfortable to read with and is lighter than the iPad. The software interface, called Eden UI, has been custom-built and runs on top of Android, to give a smooth navigation and menu system using panels and a view that mimics Apple’s cover-flow in iOS. The screen backlight on the Pixel Qi model can be turned off and on to adjust to indoor or outdoor environments.
Specifications Processor
Nvidia Tegra 250 processor with a 1 GHz Dual Core Cortex A9 Graphics ULP GPU Display 10.1” WSVGA (1024 x 600) Optional Pixel Qi display with Matte Coating: Transmissive, transflective, and reflective modes RAM 1GB DDR2 RAM Dimensions 7.5” x 10.6” x 0.55 Weight 1.6 lbs. Storage Memory 1GB SLC 8 GB Flash memory Micro-SD Card support Battery 3 cell 24.6Whr battery
00014
1st QTR
20 11
Wireless Connectivity WLAN - 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR WWAN - 3G HSPA Wired Connectivity USB 2.0 Host x 2 Mini USB HDMI Micro SD slot SIM Card slot Video Formats To be Determined Other Formats Adobe Flash Cameras 3.2 MP 185° Swivel Camera Special Features Aircraft-grade magnesium and aluminum alloys 3-Axis accelerometer Ambient light sensor GPS Digital Compass “Bonus mystery feature ;)”
Samsung Sliding PC 7
At a glance: Developer: Samsung Manufacturer: Samsung Website: www.samsung.com/us/ news/newsRead.do?news_ seq=19779&gltype= Release Date: May 2011 Price: $699 Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium w/ Microsoft Touch UI Official Accessories: None Specified Services: Samsung App Manager Windows Product Scout
Samsung will be releasing a convertible tablet, which has a slide-out keyboard built inside, which will run Windows 7. It should create a new niche for itself as being the only tablet that can be a hybrid between a laptop and a tablet by having a keyboard that is not external or only works as part of a snap-on accessory. It will come packed with 64GB of space, and carry 2GB of RAM onboard for running full Windows-based programs. Having all of this muscle has its trade off usually on battery life, but Samsung has listed that the unit will last up to 9 hours on a full charge. The unit will have some extras over its rivals by having a built-in card reader, and a USB 2.0 port, which should accommodate an external hard drive. Samsung AllShare DLNA service will connect and stream to compatible devices in your house.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display
1.5GHz Intel Atom Z670 (Oak Trail) Intel Integrated Graphics 10.1” LCD 1366 x 768 RAM 2 GB DDR2 RAM Dimensions 10.47” x 6.88” x 0.78” Weight 2.2 lbs. Storage Memory 32 GB SSD 64 GB SSD Battery Lithium Polymer; up to 9 hours
Wireless Connectivity WiFi b/g/n Bluetooth 3.0 3G HSPA/WiMax Wired Connectivity USB 2.0 HDMI 4-in-1 Memory Card Reader Video Formats Windows 7 Standard Formats Other Formats Windows 7 Standard Formats Adobe Flash Cameras 1.3MP Front Special Features Samsung Touch Launcher Samsung App Manager Windows Product Scout
1st QTR
20 11
00015
Feature
T-Mobile G-Slate
At a glance: Developer: T-Mobile USA Manufacturer: LG Electronics Website: http://mobile-broadband.t-mobile. com/android-tablet/g-slate Release Date: Early Spring 2011 Price: To be Determined Operating System: Android 3.0 - Honeycomb Official Accessories: To be Determined Services: Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D interaction, collection of more than 3 million eBooks and Google Talk™ with video and voice chat Android Market
The G-Slate with T-mobile branding is being built by LG, and will be ready to run on the T-Mobile HSPA+ network, and utilize the Honeycomb OS. This tablet should be around 9 inches, have Micro HDMI and Micro USB ports, and have a 3D display which will require glasses. Another feature that the G-Slate will have is dual rear stereoscopic cameras that can capture 3D 1080p video which can then be output to a 3D display or TV via HDMI. This may be a nice feature for Nature photographers and videographers, and will either be seen as a gimmick or a really nice creative inducing feature in the marketplace. LG is saying that the G-Slate will be available in March.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display
1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H dual-core processor To be Determined 8.9-inch 1280 × 768 RAM To be Determined Dimensions To be Determined Weight To be Determined Storage Memory 32 GB Battery To be Determined
00016
1st QTR
20 11
Wireless Connectivity WLAN - 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR T-Mobile 4G Wireless Wired Connectivity To be Determined Video Formats MPEG4, H.263, H.264 Other Formats MP3, AAC, AAC+, AMR Adobe Flash Cameras 2 MP Front, Video Chat Dual 5.0 megapixel rear-facing 3D cameras with LED Flash and 1080p video capture Special Features 3-axis gyroscope 3-axis accelerometer Digital compass Ambient light sensor Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D interaction, collection of more than 3 million eBooks and Google Talk™ with video and voice chat
Acer Iconia
At a glance: Developer: Acer Manufacturer: To be Determined Website: To be Determined Release Date: 2011 Price: around $2000 Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium Official Accessories: To be Determined Services: To be Determined
The Acer Iconia is going to truly be a niche product, but will look very enticing to those folks who are true hard-core techies. To those in the know, the Iconia is going to look like it saw the Microsoft Courier concept, and decided to pump that idea full of adrenaline. The Iconia will feature dual screens that are hinged together in the middle. The interface is entirely by touch and can be changed at will. One screen can act as a digital keyboard, or a handwriting and gesture recognition interface, while the other screen has your current application open in it. The tablet could also be held like a digital book, and have both screens be the reading panes. The Iconia will feature Windows 7 and have an Intel Core i5 processor, which is certainly almost required to be able to run both of the 14” screens. It will also include up to 4GB of RAM, a hard drive up to 750GB, along with two USB 2.0 ports, a single USB 3.0 port, HDMI, and VGA. You can expect this beast to be upwards of at least $1200 - $2000 if it is ever released out of the “concept” designation that Acer currently places on it.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display RAM Dimensions Weight Storage Memory Battery
Intel Core i5 processor To be Determined Dual Hinged 14 inch multitouch LCDs 4GB RAM To be Determined To be Determined 750 GB Hard Drive 4-cell battery
Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11/b/g/n Bluetooth 3.0 + HS Integrated with 3G WWAn Wired Connectivity USB 3.0 Two USB 2.0 ports VGA HDMI Video Formats Windows 7 Standard Formats Other Formats Windows 7 Standard Formats Adobe Flash Cameras crystal eye webcam Special Features Microphone
1st QTR
20 11
00017
Feature
LG Optimus
At a glance: Developer: LG Electronics Manufacturer: LG Electronics Website: To Be Determined Release Date: To Be Determined Price: To Be Determined Operating System: Android 3.0 Honeycomb Official Accessories: To Be Determined Services: Android Market
Besides the G-Slate that LG is building for T-mobile, they are also reportedly going to release a 9 inch tablet known as either the LG Pad or Optimus Pad. LG will be showing the tablet off at MWC 2011, and like the G-Slate, should also be a 3D tablet. Specs include a front camera, as well as a rear camera with dual LED flashes, HDMI, USB, 32GB internal memory, and an SD card slot. It may also have the 3D recording feature that was outlined for the T-Mobile G-Slate above. Also running Honeycomb, this will be one of the talked about tablets early this year.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display
1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor To be Determined 8.9� LCD 1280 x 768 WXGA RAM To be Determined Dimensions To be Determined Weight To be Determined Storage Memory To be Determined Battery To be Determined
00018
1st QTR
20 11
Wireless Connectivity Wired Connectivity Video Formats Other Formats Cameras Special Features
To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined Adobe Flash Dual 5.0 megapixel rear-facing 3D cameras with LED Flash and 1080p video capture To be Determined
Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid
At a glance: Developer: Lenovo Group Limited Manufacturer: To be Determined Website: http://news.lenovo.com/article_ display.cfm?article_id=1301 Release Date: June 1, 2010 Price: $999 Operating System: Base: Windows 7 Home Premium Tablet: Lenovo’s Skylight 0S (Android) Official Accessories: To be Determined Services: To be Determined
The IdeaPad U1 fills the gap for people that would like a tablet, but aren’t ready to let go of having a functional laptop. The Screen from the U1 will release, allowing it to function as a standalone tablet. Plug it back into the housing, and you gain the look and feel of a laptop with a keyboard. With an 11.6-inch touchscreen, Lenovo has been showing this product as a prototype, and will have to decide whether to bring it to market or not. One downfall of the design is that the 128GB SSD drive will not be accessible once the tablet is removed from the base, so you have to remember to copy over a file that you would want to work on while in tablet mode. However, the “Hybrid Switch” function will allow a website to seamlessly open on the Tablet when it is removed. The tablet will also only function as an Android tablet when it is removed, meaning you can’t run your Windows 7 apps if you aren’t connected to the base. Maybe Lenovo will work out some of these kinks, but buyers may still be interested if it does go on sale this year.
Specifications Processor
Tablet: 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM chipset Base: Intel Core 2 Duo CULV processor Graphics To be Determined Display 11.6 multi-touch HD LED screen RAM To be Determined Dimensions To be Determined Weight Tablet: 1.6 lbs. Base + Tablet: 3.8 lbs. Storage Memory Tablet: 16 GB Base: 128 GB SSD Battery 5 hours 3G Web browsing and 60 hours of 3G standby
Wireless Connectivity Wired Connectivity Video Formats Other Formats Cameras Special Features
To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined intergrated video camera “Hybrid Switch” allowing seamless integration between Intel and Arm Processors Base acts as 3G wireless hub for tablet
1st QTR
20 11
00019
Feature
Dell Streak 10
At a glance: Developer: AA Manufacturer: To be Determined Website: To be Determined Release Date: Spring 2011* Price: To be Determined Operating System: To be Determined Official Accessories: To be Determined Services: To be Determined
Along with a 5 inch and 7 inch tablet, Dell will be releasing a 10 inch tablet that is more geared towards productivity, rather than entertainment. The 10 inch OS will be a toss-up on wether Dell decides to release it with Windows 7, Linux, or both. Michael Dell also said in January that the 10 in tablet would also be released in an Android version with Honeycomb installed as a direct competitor to the iPad.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display RAM Dimensions Weight Storage Memory Battery
00020
To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined
1st QTR
20 11
Wireless Connectivity Wired Connectivity Video Formats Other Formats Cameras Special Features
To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined
SONY Playstation Tablet
At a glance: Developer: Lenovo Group Limited Manufacturer: To be Determined Website: http://www.engadget. com/2011/02/16/exclusive-sonys1-brings-qriocity-to-9-4-inchhoneycomb-table/ Release Date: September 2011 window Price: $599* Operating System: Android 3.0 - Honeycomb Official Accessories: To be Determined Services: PlayStation Suite*
Even though it is a little early to mention this tablet, we thought that you would like to be aware of it anyway. Sony’s tablet plans have finally come out of the woodwork after someone who has seen the tablet gave a quick outline of the info to Engadget. The tablet will be able to run the PlayStation Suite software that is being readied for Android mobile devices.
Specifications Processor Graphics Display RAM Dimensions Weight Storage Memory Battery
Tegra 2 processor* To be Determined 9.4 1280 x 800* To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined
Wireless Connectivity Wired Connectivity Video Formats Other Formats Cameras Special Features
To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined To be Determined
1st QTR
20 11
00021
Before there were cell phones...
“Thank you for calling 1-800-Collect . To make a collect call, enter the number you wish to call, area code first” “Dials Number”
“Say your name after the tone.”
“Mom, pick me up.” “Connecting. Please Wait.”
“I’m sorry, your call has not been accepted.” “Hangs up” “Alright dude. My Mom is coming to get us”
Moments in History