Knowing what we now know of the
Droid -- codename Sholes -- the mere mental image of that "
Sholes Tablet" that we've been hearing about for a while brings us to our geeky knees. Taiwanese forum
Mobile01 seems to have details on just what the Sholes Tablet is all about, and while we'd normally be skeptical to the point of dismissal, the presence of a few believable-looking images has us on the bandwagon. The biggies on the rumored spec sheet include HDMI out, 720p video recording paired to an 8 megapixel cam (which is hopefully of much, much higher quality than the Droid's miserable 5) with xenon flash, and Motorola's own CrystalTalk tech for background noise reduction on calls. It'll apparently be running Android 2.0 -- the presence of
BLUR is unknown -- and the screen is a predictably awesome 3.7 inches at WVGA resolution with multitouch support; missing, as the name suggests, is the original's sliding QWERTY keyboard. All signs point to use seeing this in the next few months, so enjoy those Droids and Milestones while you can, yeah?
posted December 2nd 2009 12:49PM
You know that plane that shot the Droid out to earth in that capsule?
The SHOLES was the plane.
I'm still trying to figure out why we're calling this a tablet?
@tylersmyler no keyboard, but there is another MOTO android with 3.8" screen and 800mhz
@tylersmyler and more megapixels don't make it a better camera. it's all about the optics.
@tylersmyler Because thats the code name.
If Moto had called it the Gobitygook in leaked documents we'd be calling it the Gobitygook. Just so happens they called it Sholes tablet.
@CJ100570 Damn straight! Plus, we won't know if that xenon flash is actually any good until someone gets a hands-on with it.
@therockr92 Xenon? I want to see a video where you make 30 flashes per second and faces of those who get shot.
Hybrid flash FTW!
Why would you name something Sholes after the creator of the typewriter and QWERTY keyboard if it didn't have a QWERTY keyboard?
@Andir
irony maybe?
@Andir They didn't. They named the one with the QWERTY Sholes.
@tande04
And I always thought it was gobbledygook!
I'm excited about this one. The only thing keeping me on the fence about the Droid is that I'm not really sure I'd ever use the physical keyboard, and this obviously solves that problem.
Hopefully it follows in the Droid's footprints and comes with stock Android (I.e. without BLUR) and launches as a google experience device on Verizon.
@Tensai
I plan on getting a Droid, but I would still like to have these specs along with the physical keyboard. :(
@Tensai I'm guessing no blur.
Blur seems to be what they're using on their lower grade android phones. Cliq, Backflip, the VZW one that I can't remember the code name of. They're the phones that are targeted to appeal to a younger crowd and so they get blur.
The higher end more professional ones seem like they're going to stay standard. The fact that they call it sholes tablet and not some other codename also hints heavily that its going to follow the same lines.
@Tensai Now that I have a droid, I couldn't imagine typing on the soft keyboard only. Though it may have faults, I love the Droid keyboard. I just wish it had these specs... especially the HDMI out.
T-Mobile?
@Chefgon Please! Or unlocked with american 3G bands. Or even Sprint. I can't afford verizon.
I prefer Mo-toto-rola to the actual name. Sounds like Toto found his mojo out rollin' with the bitches.
This is why I've waited on the Droid. I don't want the physical keyboard and also want a phone with a more usable camera. Hope this comes out soon and on Verizon.
@jwinstonc I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want a physical keyboard, at least to have it as an option.
@hkim823 Really don't text too much and I'd rather have a thinner tablet phone then a slider. I find the keyboard on the Droid to be a little tough to use and would rather rely on the on-screen keyboard. The cleaner design of a tablet phone also appeals to me more than the slider.
@jwinstonc *than
Yeah, it's all about what your going to use it for. I use my TP2 for work and therefore enjoy the keyboard. But deep down I would prefer to have a phone that doesn't feel like a giant brick.
@hkim823 Because its highly highly annoying having to turn your phone when you want to input anything. I mean using the Pre in landscape mode will make you dizzy after a while.
@hkim823 You know, I thought the same thing when the Droid came out and I heard there was going to be a keyboadless Droid. Why?
But then the reviews came in and the keyboard sucked. Then I got to try it on the store and, sure enough, it sucks.
Therefore, I would love a thinner Droid that doesn't waste space for that waste of a keyboard.
Android 2.0 + Kodak 8MP camera = Sholes tablet
wonder if the battery cover will stay on.
Is this the Droid I was looking for?
@HotBBQ
Yes sir I think it is.
If it walks like a tablet, quacks like a tablet...
...it's a phone.
I'd be surprised if this came out on Verizon. It competes far too directly with the Droid, and it does very little for MOTO's attempt at resurgence back into the industry. They need to diversify and offer this on AT&T or TMO. Or Sprint, I guess.
@Mr Oos: No VZW. The other rumored specs also say UMTS/HSDPA which points to one of the GSM carriers.
T-mobile support pages showed Sholes on there for awhile so it points to it ending up there.
@Mr Oos Personally, it reminds me of the touch pro and the touch diamond. That said, this is like a super premium droid eris, so it probably is too many options.
I can't wait until manufacturers stop pumping out more megapixels and start improving image quality. Early DSLRs had less than 5MP and produced amazing images.
Oh shi- that's a hot "tablet." So this is a phone yeah? Any word if Verizon is getting the phone cause I'd rather wait to get it than upgrade to the Droid now.
This is the reason I waited before buying the Droid
I've been waiting for this, since you guys posted that Sam's Club(?) Motorola Calender.
@Maj
I hope it doesnt come with MotoBLUR.
add a keyboard to this thing and it'd be worth something...yeah?
@(Unverified)
this device's target market is asian market. (asian dont like keyboard) that's why it's been leaked there.
@ericlin I think it leaked there because thats where the manufacturing is done, not where the phone will end up.
The clock is ticking for me...I wish I could wait to find out if and when the Sholes or Passion comes to Verizon. But in 3 weeks I'm getting Droid as soon as my 2yr contract is up. If only there were some solid information as to what and when.
They add 720p video recording, but got rid of the better 16:9 FWVGA screen?
@EGOvoruhk Its the exact same screen as the droid if thats what you're referring to.
The Droid is 854x480. This is 800x480 according to the BGR page
@EGOvoruhk http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/purported-motorola-roadmap-uncovers-sholes-tablet-motus-and-oth/
The original leak refers to them both as 480x854.
Guess thats something that will need to be cleared up when more comes out.
That seriously has the power to become the Android-powered HTC HD2 killer. (except the screen size of course)
Really? hopefully it comes to Sprint
They could've stuffed a snapdragon into this phone. It will have the same processor as Droid which is not bad, but I hope we'll see how Android 2 preforms on a Snapdragon in 2010 Q1.
BAH! I haven't even taken delivery of my Droid (milestone) yet!
Chris Ziegler the grammar police would like to ask a few questions about that last sentence.
"All signs point to use seeing this in the next few months, so enjoy those Droids and Milestones while you can, yeah?"
Did you mean us? If so we have no further questions, if not, we're gonna need to take you down to the station.