It may technically be the Year of the Rabbit, but 2011 is shaping up to be the Year of the Tablet. Every consumer electronics company on the planet is pushing out new devices, hoping to snag the interest of eager buyers. While not all will be successful, consumers certainly can’t claim they don’t have options.
A large litter of newborn Android tablets was announced in the past week or so, as covered by Connected World, each one playing up the features designed to make it unique.
Lenovo, www.lenovo.com, made a statement announcing a tablet for $199. The IdeaPad A1 features a 7-inch screen, weighs about 400 grams, and runs on Android. Lenovo said the tablet should be available near the end of September.
Samsung, www.samsung.com, announced the newest addition to its lineup: the GALAXY Tab 7.7. The device will feature Honeycomb, Android’s most recent iteration optimized for tablets, as well as a “Super AMOLED Plus” display, improved touchscreen technology, and a dual 1.2 GHz processor. Pricing and availability have not yet been released.
Sony, www.sony.com, also made a move in the tablet world, announcing two new tablet models: the Sony Tablet S and Sony Tablet P. Both models are powered by Android and feature front and rear-facing cameras. The S model is available for pre-sale now and features a 9.4-inch touchscreen, weighs in at 1.33 lbs., and offers Wi-Fi connectivity. The Sony Tablet P will offer both Wi-Fi and 4G via AT&T’s network, and should be available later this year. Tablet P features two 5.5-inch screens that can fold together for easy portability.
The HTC Jetstream, www.htc.com, is another new tablet offering, and it will be available exclusively to AT&T customers. Jetstream will support 4G LTE/HSPA+ advanced network speeds and features a 10.1-inch high-definition display screen. It goes on September 4 in retail stores and online.
Consumers looking to purchase an Android tablet have their work cut out for them in making a decision. The question of whether a greater variety of Android tablets makes them more or less appealing is a tough one to answer. But for now, the release of new devices shows no signs of slowing down.