Two New 7-inch Android Tablets, One a Phone, One in 3-D
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CREDIT: ViewSonic |
Samsung, with its Galaxy Tab, has been the only major manufacturer to show a 7-inch tablet so far; most other manufacturers decided to go larger or smaller. But two other companies are showing off their own 7-inch Android tablets, each with a special perk.
The ViewSonic ViewPad 7 is a fairly standard tablet that will run the latest Android 2.2 Froyo operating system. But it also doubles as a standard cell phone. People though the Dell Streak tablet was a little too big for its phone functionality at 5 inches. It's conceivable the ViewPad will be an even more awkward phone.
"The ViewPad 7 is aimed at users who require the ‘always on' connectivity they are used to from a mobile phone with a more agreeable screen size for longer term use," said Derek Wright, ViewSonic European Product Marketing Manager, in a company statement.
The ViewPad 7 is likely designed to capitalize on the video chat trend started with the iPhone 4. It has a standard 3 megapixel camera on the back, but there is also a webcam built into the front of the device. Other features include GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There is no price or release date yet for the ViewPad 7.
The other new 7-inch tablet eschews phone capabilities in favor of following the 3-D fad. The i-Station Z3D is also an Android tablet, but with a 3-D screen. The downside is that it requires 3-D glasses , which seems like a burden just to check email or use a productivity app. The resolution, 800 x 480 pixels, is also a little low for a large screen device, let alone a 3-D tablet.
The specs include the Android 2.1 operating system, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio, high definition video support and 32 or 64GB of storage. It is expected to launch in November for around $500.
