Sony surprised visitors to the Consumer Electronics Show back in January when the company announced its intentions to take second place in the tablet market within a year, despite not having a tablet under its name. But at a media launch in Tokyo on Tuesday, the company announced two new devices that will be coming to take on the iPad this fall.
Identified, for now, by the code names S1 and S2, the new Sony tablets will be powered by the latest Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, and will both feature Wi-Fi and 3G/4G capabilities. The S1 will feature a 9.4-inch display and a Tegra 2 processor, with an “off-centre of gravity design.” It will also boast an IR port for controlling Sony’s line of Bravia televisions.
The S2 has two 5.5-inch displays with a foldable design; which can be used independently to display different functions, or together for browsing websites and other tasks.
Sony chose not to reveal any further details about either tablet, disclaiming that “design and specifications are subject to change without notice.” Both devices will be compatible with selected PlayStation games, and are scheduled for a worldwide launch this coming fall.
The S1 certainly looks like a pretty swanky tablet in the picture above, but I’m sure I like the foldable design that comes with the S2. Until we know more details about each device’s technical specifications, it’s hard to determine whether these Sony tablets will worthy adversaries for the iPad 2. However, I can’t imagine Sony would release them if they weren’t strong contenders.
[via AppleInsider]
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
12 responses to “Sony Unveils its First Two Tablets – Coming to Take on iPad This Fall”
On paper, that S2 design looks cool, right? What geek/engineer wouldn’t marvel at a foldable 10″ tablet that you can slip in your pocket?
Now think about how you would use it. On the couch? What about that hinge? I know having it fold up on itself while I try to type on it would drive me batty. Sitting flat on the table? An ergonomic nightmare.
They look really cool and Sony does have good PC’s so I expect their tablets to be pretty good – hardware that is. I am really concerned about Android as an OS. Yes I know I will get flamed for this.
But in my mind I see similarities between Windows and Android. Both are allegedly “open” and totally fractured. Too much crapware and overall poor quality OS software.
Google, only cares about Android because it can generate revenue via advertising. I am not sure I care for that. If i am going to pay for something, then I have a right not to be bothered by junk.
JDS
Thank goodness it’s “subject to change” LOL.
yeah, I really like looking at sites/docs/photos cut in half – great user experience..
Is it still too soon to ask if this is “Earth shaking” news for the tablet market, or shall I just ask what the supply chain for these components will look like for the next 6-12 months?
“will be compatible with selected PlayStation games”
… yeah, until a firmware update is pushed out that removes that feature