Well we just got to lay hands on the above Foxconn-manufactured, Tegra 2-powered Android prototype, and we'll be honest -- it was awfully sweet. There wasn't much going on beyond some gaming action -- we didn't see it boot into standard Android -- though it was running the 3D football title you see above at a pretty healthy clip (check out the video after the break). NVIDIA reps weren't very keen on sharing info about the device, though we can tell you that it's apparently got 1GB of RAM inside cuddled up to that 1GHz ARM Cortex 9 CPU, a front-facing camera, and the WSVGA screen measures 8.9-inches (it's also a much wider aspect ratio than something like the iPad). We're going to hold any judgment till we see this thing cooking with a full UI, but we're not knocking it -- get this in at the right price, and we'll likely be first in line.
Update: Correction, the screen size is 8.9-inches, not 9.7.
posted May 19th 2010 7:23PM
@JimmyBoy
Better than the iPad can.
That's still a definite no though.
If this is under 600$ I'm lining up on day one to get one. I've been waiting for a good alternative to the iPad, and I'd rather have a very fast android tablet than a netbook with a touchscreen instead of a keyboard (aka the HP slate).
@doyleman7 why exactly were you waiting for an alternative to the iPad? What can this do that a jailbroken iPad cannot?
@BigFatDuck
For one, it has 1GB of ram, which means everytime you switch tabs on your browser, the page doesn't refresh...
Secondly, it runs a dualcore 1 Ghz A9MPcore based chip, with 8 Cuda cores for graphics...which, to say the least, is 4 times faster than the A4 in terms of raw performance...
It has USB ports, allowing flash drives and peripherals to be attached, and has SD (not miniSD) card reader for expandable memory...
It has HDMI and can play 1080P videos over 16 hours continuous play...
It runs ANDROID...not iPhone OS...
I don't see what the big deal is. Isn't it just a faster iPad, which itself is just a big iPod touch.
Am I doing this right?
@(Unverified) Think again. Look at the proposed specs and tell me that is true...
The ideal tablet would be one that is very thin, has a rotating physical keyboard so it can transform into a laptop, touchscreen, and it has to look nice.
What? Where are all the haters on that bezel that's identical to the iPad? Oh, you don't care now that it's not an Apple product? What a surprise..
@BigFatDuck Your point is solid, but it is just like poking yourself in the hand with a tiny needle (bezel) and than going to get a double chocolate sunday with all the fixings (Tegra 2). Are you really going to care that you poked yourself with a tiny needle?
@BigFatDuck then* FFS
@BigFatDuck
My first thought was "looks like an Apple product". Sigh, this is just another manufacturer trying to cash in on the tablet craze that Apple created.
Same situation when the iPhone was released... Apple releases a product and the industry plays catch up.
@WilliamNighthawk Your point is solid, but it is just like poking yourself in the hand with a tiny needle (bezel) and than going to get a double chocolate sunday with all the fixings (iPhone OS) and ending up with a steaming pile of refried beans. Are you really going to care that you poked yourself with a tiny needle? Yes, but now you're doubly pissed because you wanted a double chocolate sunday with all the fixings and ended up with refried beans all over your face. :( Shoulda gone with the iPad.
@BigFatDuck :] Amusing, but just the graphics core of the Tegra 2 could demolish the iPads hardware.
@sighclops It is about cashing in yes, but it's also about innovating. If the ipad can't let you view the whole web then there is room for improvement. This particular tablet may or may not be it but I think it's moving in the right direction. I don't know if they were the only ones at the time but Apple did have the foresight to realize that the majority of people want tablets for media consumption not just for work. And they were the first ones to put a good one out. I think that they deserve credit for that. However it's not the end all. If someone comes out with a better one it's good for all of us. Unfortunately it may have to be a company with a bigger name to really get people buying.
NOOOOO! Ill be first in line!
Why is the audio connected to the Nexus One?
I'm enjoying the Tegra 2 saga. Introduced on January 7, it's already May and the most we've seen of it are prototypes displayed at trade shows. it may be one heck of a chip, but by the time it finally comes out the Tegra 3 with quad A10 cores will be the new hotness, and we'll be talking about the super new HP WebOS tablet using Tegra 3 which will be out real soon now, all the while throwing our Droids out the window for having only a pokey Snapdragon.
Meanwhile, people who need a smartphone or a tablet are using non--Tegra 2 just fine right now. It's not all about specs.
Looks cool but I already have an iPad
I really want an ipad but just can't justify it right now. I like viewing the web on my iphone but the problem is that I can't view alot of sites because of no flash. I wish that those sites didn't use flash but they do and I can't view them without my laptop so the ipad does nothing for me that my iphone/macbook pro combo can't do
I bet if this is as much as the ipad nobody will want it
@jjrudey
I like competition in principle as it benefits the consumer most of the time- but excess results in undesirable feature crawl sometimes. :-/.
But I see your point. iPad has the Apple name going for it and everything that entails. To get these Android devices to overwhelm Ipad sales levels would probably require equivalent or better hardware, lower or subsidized pricing, and hype with much needed but expensive advertisement. All those factors are just not going to happen simultaneously in concert overnight. I wouldn't be surprised if the real number of that 50+ android/win promised earlier this year is realized by a number of devices in the low tweens.
I have to say this....While I had a iphone and switched to the Droid and am glad i did (love the phone and the carrier much better), and had a macbook pro that i barely used and eventually sold and got a nice Toshiba ultrathin and find i like windows 7 better then mac os X, and while im not gonna get an Ipad due to certain lack of features that i want in a tablet...
...I still have to thank Apple. White im not a Apple fanboy or hater...i do realize and am glad at the stuff they do (hardware wise anyway..not necessarily policy wise) because they make these things possible.
Even thought i dont own an iphone anymore, my Droid would not exsist if it wasnt for the Iphone. And while I am waiting on the first great Android tablet to come out to get one and not the Ipad, this awesome exciting tablet boom would not be here if it wasnt for the Ipad.
So while i Apple products arent for me...im glad they exsist..cause the other stuff that are for me wouldnt be around if it wasnt for them.
@guardianaj
dude, your statements are full of shit. You don't own a macbook, you never owned one at all.
STFU.
I'm still waiting in line for Android tablets, but some of you android fanboys make me facepalm
The notebook in the background is a Sony Vaio FW Series. Impressive.
I wish they would make a tablet like this, put a d-pad on the left, and a few buttons on the right. Say 4 of 'em, even. It'd be the perfect emulation and portable gaming device, period.
How heavy? Holdable with one arm?
@willwillywilson Yeah it might be. The iPad is too heavy at 1.5 pounds, but the display area is probably a third larger than this. So this might just tip the scales around a pound. Which is probably good. A 10 ounce Kindle 2 is so light its not even an issue, so I think a pound would probably work.
I'll hold out for the Android/ Google slate in a few months, plus we just read how awful Foxconn was, so I think I'll pass on this one.
any news on ADAM?
You're trolling pretty hard there. Are you ok? That must be really exhausting.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this device does with full screen typing, and if it will be mostly vanilla Froyo (ha). I have a Nexus One but will totally spring for this if the price is right. Android will FLY on a dual-core A9 with 1GB of RAM - and no, it doesn't "need" it. It's just really enjoyable to use on fast hardware like my Nexus One.
"Game Over"
Fail!... next.
After the story yesterday about Foxconn's essentially slave-labor operated factory? I certainly won't be buying anything from them any time soon, and neither should anyone else.
at 00:14 it blocks. To me tegra sucks and 00:14 demonstrates it.
I saw this at Google I/O. Looks good.
Looking good. If it has wifi, an SD card slot, and reasonable price, I will get it.
@sshating
"... chews up tons of memory to the point you need a taskmanager to get memory back..."
Erm, right, when actually android has a sophisticated way of clearing up memory when it's needed, whilst apps in the background use literally 0% of the CPU, and Google themselves have stated that using a taskmanager is unnecessary and can actually do more harm than good. I stopped using my taskmanager and the battery lasts just as long and my phone never takes a hit on performance; you see, that's why we have Snapdragon and Tegra-2 chipsets. ;)
Do your research before Flaming:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=678205&highlight=taskmanager
Design doesn't look bad, still a wait and see game!
Wow. Look at the size of the BORDER on that thing. Its HUGE!!!
I'm tempted to get this or maybe a webOS tablet that HP is promising, we'll see. I'm kind of torn though, after reading all the stories of the terrible conditions Foxconn workers suffer through, I'm a little wary of buying their products or supporting them in any way.
If this is as fast as the ipad but runs android it should be killer. The widescreen shape is awesome but lose the huge bezel people please. Also whats up with everyone doing a glossy screen. That blows but I understand that the blacks look better glossy. I'm just practical I guess. Hope its slightly cheaper than the ipad however, No need for itunes? priceless
BAFFLING! WHY would you play games without any controls? Supergay, if you ask me. I think a notebook would be so much better suited for any task. Explain to me again the reason for losing the keyboard?
what kind of shoes is he wearing?
IPAD KILLER