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Amadeus Consulting Discusses Slates, Tablets, and E-Readers: A Preview for 2010 - Part 2

UX 10 by LG

Features: Slightly smaller than some of the largest tablets, the LG UX 10 still sports a big 10.1 Inch Screen. This is perfect, since the UX 10 runs on Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, and will have little difficulty playing all video formats. However, if 10.1 inches is not large enough, it also comes with a mini-HDMI port so you could just as easily connect it to your HD TV.

The choice to run on Windows 7 Home Premium, with a touch-based interface, will be interesting as it seems that it is still a less-than-optimal choice for touch-based devices. However, so far that judgment is based off devices that were cancelled or delayed, so it could be a hardware issue or a custom interface issue as well.

In either case, it will be interesting to see if Windows 7 devices will change to Windows Embedded CE, or the Windows Phone 7 operating system before final release as these are designed exclusively for mobile platforms, instead of trying to modify a desktop-based interface.

Back to the UX 10, it is still in pre-production prototyping, but currently runs on an Atom Z530 chip, with 1 GB of DDR2 RAM and a 120 GB Hard Drive. A hard drive, you ask? Yes, in fact the UX 10 is actually a "flat PC," as some call it" because it is essentially a laptop with a screen where the keyboard would be.

This means that it is a bit thicker and heavier than other tablets, but it also packs a lot more power under its surface and can do most anything that a laptop could do (you could even whip out a mouse and keyboard!). No confirmation yet, but it also means that you could upgrade some of the internal components as you could with a laptop as well.

Although LG makes mobile devices, the UX 10 is currently only designed with WiFi capability, but that could change before release. Also included are a tiny 1.3 megapixel front-facing webcam, SD card slot, and a large battery.

Release: Still in prototyping phase, with representatives saying that it will ship at some point in the future.

ExoPC Slate by ExoPC

Features: Another Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium based tablet, the ExoPC is very competitive at $599.

The ExoPC is a full service tablet featuring a webcam, SD/SDHC card reader, USB Ports, WiFi and Bluetooth, and SSD card storage. This is in addition to a 1.66 GHz 64-bit Intel Atom Pineview processor, and 2GB of RAM. That is all displayed on a giant 11.6-inch multi-touch display. As a bonus, there is also an accelerometer and light sensor.

The giant display will come in handy as this is an Internet and entertainment focused device, supporting all video formats, including Flash 10.1 and Silverlight, and has 5 hours of battery life to back it up.

Another unique feature is that it has built in speakers as well as a headphone jack.

For applications, the ExoPC offers its own App Store and apps will run through the ExoPC UI Development kit, which makes it possible to create multi-touch applications using JavaScript and Flash, or to add multi-touch support for existing applications written in that format. The tablet also supports HTML, ActionScript, .mov and .mp4 video, and will soon support .Net applications.

Release: Hinted to be released around September 2010, with the possibility of preorders starting soon. Prices start at $599 for the 32GB option.

BlackBerry Tablet by RIM [Rumored]

Features: This one is a bit fuzzy, since nothing has been officially confirmed, but after reports by the Wall Street Journal and Boy Genius Report, there are some interesting insights about a possible BlackBerry® tablet.

First, the tablet is rumored to be released alongside a similar phone, and both will run on a new version of the BlackBerry operating systems, BlackBerry OS 6, which is much more similar to an iPhone. It will accept gesture inputs, and allow people to slide between screens and expand images with their fingers. There will also be an integrated search feature.

In terms of connectivity, it appears that the Tablet would be a "companion device" and will only connect to the Internet through WiFi, or via a Bluetooth connection to a BlackBerry phone, but will not have its own cellular network capability.

It is also reported that the tablet will have an 8.9-inch (diagonal) screen, and is being designed as a media device, which means e-books, Web browsing, photos and video.

Release:  RIM has confirmed that they will be releasing a phone on the new OS on September 30 of this year, but they have not confirmed any information about a tablet device.

1&1 SmartPad by 1&1

Features: German DSL Provider 1&1 is releasing its own tablet device, which will be an Android based 7" device, featuring Wi-Fi and an LCD WVGA Touch Screen. Unfortunately at release it will only be running on Android 1.6, and will not have access to the Android Market. On a slightly brighter side, it does come with its own market which has approximately 100 apps, and is said to be upgrading to Android 2.2 sometime in September.

It comes with WiFi capability, and an external dongle (Usb Modem) that gives 2G/3G connectivity. Also included is a Docking Station which allows the tablet to be controlled by Remote Control, or act as a digital picture frame when not in use. It also has an SD card slot.

Release:  1&1 (the company) is offering the 1&1 Smartpad to new DSL customers for free starting in July, but it is not clear when or if current 1&1 customers can purchase the device or if/when it will be available in other markets as well.

ICD Ultra and Vega by ICD

Features: Innovative Converged Devices (ICD) is focusing on affordability with its $250 Ultra tablet. But that low price does not mean that it is low on power, as it runs on Nvidia's Tegra 2 GPU and Android 2.0 OS (or possibly 2.1 or higher by release). It also comes with 4GB of internal flash memory, HD video capability, and optional 3G.

Ultra sports a 7" screen and standard Wi-Fi and 2G/3G connectivity. It also comes with an FM radio so you can use old-school music "streaming."  It also comes with a front-facing camera and a mini-HDMI output.

The Ultra is the little brother to the Vega, a 15.6" tablet. Except for a larger screen size, and larger memory, Vega's specs are still fairly similar. Oh, and the Vega is only being released in the UK for now, so there's that.

Release: Currently targeted for Q3 2010, the Ultra may be launched with subsidies From Verizon (for 3G devices). The Ultra will start at about $250 with upgrade options and/or carrier subsidies available. Vega will be launching in the UK through T-Mobile.

Wind Pad by MSI

Features: Shown at CES and Computex, MSI is debuting two devices, called the Wind Pad 100 and the Wind Pad 110. Despite similar names, these are both fairly different devices, although both are still semi-prototypes, so final specs are not yet set.

The Wind Pad 100 is an Intel Atom based device that will run on Windows 7, and include a solid state drive for storage. It will also provide a touch-friendly UI on top of Windows 7 to make it more usable as a multi-Touch Tablet device.

The Wind Pad 110, on the other hand, is will be powered by the Tegra 2, and will run on a version of Android. There is no firm release date for either device, but the Wind Pad 100 should appear by the end of the year and retail for around $499.

Despite some differences, both devices are otherwise fairly similar, being very light (only 1.7 pounds), which is not bad for its 10" capacitive display. Both will also have a mini-HDMI output that supports at least 720p video.

Release: Starting at $499, the Wind Pad 10 (Windows 7) should be available sometime this year. The Wind Pad 110 is said to start at $399 and should also appear later this year.

So…

So, that's it. Actually, there are a few that were left off, for a variety of reasons. Some are already out and available, some are tablet/laptops (not true slates, if such a category really exists), and some we ourselves may not have heard about yet. If there is something that you are particularly excited for, please let us know in the comments below.

We are excited about these new devices. But mostly, we are excited about helping our clients create new apps for these devices. If you have a great idea for an app, we can help you develop it (you retain full rights and control of the app during and after development, of course. We just assist in development). If that interests you, please let us know.

We know many of our current clients are excited to get apps on the first mainstream Android, Windows, and BlackBerry slates. Your app could be there too, and we can help make that happen.

 

About the Author

About Todd McMurtrey

The marketing team at Amadeus Consulting considers it part of their daily tasks to stay on top of what is going on in the technology marketplace. It is important to our company culture to be technology thought leaders, but we also want to share our knowledge and insights with readers excited about the latest and greatest tech news in the Tech Market Watch blog.

The Daily Geek #121 - twitter, Palm Pre, App Store, Verizon Wireless, Vizio, Blackberry Storm

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