Toshiba clues us in on next gen Android tablet
—Toshiba has been showing off a preview model of its as-yet-unnamed next generation Android Tablet computer at this year’s CES. The Tegra 2-powered, high resolution, multi-touch device features both a front and rear cameras, technology which gives standard def video a color, contrast and sharpness boost, and Wireless-N connectivity. There’s also user access to the onboard Li-ion battery for any necessary swapouts and changeable outer covers for some welcome personalization.
Toshiba hasn’t said whether its next gen Android Tablet will be called the Folio II, but has confirmed that it will run on Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) by the time it hits the streets during the first half of this year. The preview model shown to Gizmag at CES had a 10.1-inch multi-touch LED display at 1280 x 800 resolution with a cinematic 16:10 aspect ratio and featured something Toshiba is calling Adaptive Display technology, which automatically adjusts contrast and brightness depending on surrounding ambient light.
The power under the hood comes courtesy of NVIDIA’s Dual-Core Tegra 2 mobile processor, with integrated graphics that are reported to be capable of full frame-rate 1080p video playback. Some proprietary Resolution+ video enhancement technology also adds a splash of high definition zing to standard definition video and there’s an included HDMI-out for onward transmission of content to a HDTV.
The 10.7 x 6.9 x 0.6-inch (271 x 175 x 15 mm) Tablet is said to weigh less than 1.7 pounds (0.77 kg) and benefits from a design that allows users to swap the rubberized EasyGrip back covers for another color, should the mood grab them.
Like the iPad, the device also includes an orientation lock to keep the display in portrait mode even when the device is in landscape or vice versa. There’s also haptic feedback for the onscreen keyboard, which is said to result in fewer typing errors.
The device also sports a 2 MP front-facing camera and 5 MP at the rear, stereo speakers with Toshiba “sound enhancement technology,” full size USB 2.0 as well as mini-USB ports, an SD card slot and a docking connector. There’s 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and built-in GPS and compass to help take advantage of location-based services.
Apps can be downloaded from Toshiba’s own dedicated application marketplace and those wishing to use the device as a color e-Reader will be interested in the company’s own online bookstore called BookPlace.
The official specs made no mention of onboard storage, and there was no word on pricing. We’ll let you know as more details become available.
Posted 1/8/11
