LG confirms Android tablet for Q4 2010 launch, Froyo for Optimus Z

Now this is jolly good news. LG, which already has a Windows 7 tablet in the works, is gearing up to service those with a hankering for some Android in their slate computers as well. Clearly unwilling to fall behind its fierce rival Samsung, LG has just announced that it'll bringing out its own Google-centric tablet before the end of 2010. Indications are that it'll be different (presumably better) than current offerings on the market, but alas there's nary a peep about what that might mean on the spec sheet. In other machine-translated news, the Korean company is also planning a new version of its SU950 handset, aka the Optimus Z, which will come preloaded with Android 2.2. Current owners of the phone need not despair either, as Froyo upgrades are planned for them by the fourth quarter as well. Hmm, all this Q4 and 2.2 action flying about, would be nice to think this tablet would benefit from the same treatment.

[supraped69 Posted Jul 5th 2010 2:49AM]

meh, cool that apple has competition but I still don't see the point of a tablet. Maybe I'll get one in a couple years for fun when they are like 200$ or less.

[juanvaldez Posted Jul 5th 2010 2:59AM]

@supraped69 $200 ones will be available in less than 12 months, just going to be a bit dumbed down relative to the high end stuff.

[Joey the Squid Posted Jul 5th 2010 2:53AM]

I love reading about all these Android tablets but have any of them (aside from the Streak) actually been released? I intend to retire my netbook and pick up a tablet before the end of the year. The game plan is the iPad, since I already own an iPhone and actually like the OS, but I'm certainly open to a 7" or better Android tablet if the specs and price are right.

[juanvaldez Posted Jul 5th 2010 2:57AM]

@Joey the Squid Samsung has the 7" all but confirmed, I expect it in about 2 months but that's just a bet and things change. Probably 2 more sizes to follow the 7", I'd guess 10" & 12" but they could always nix those ideas all together. They really want in the tablet game though, so I don't see the 7" going away but maybe they decide to start with the 10 or 12".

[chastiser Posted Jul 5th 2010 3:17AM]

another V A P O U R W A R E !

[UptownDonkey Posted Jul 5th 2010 3:27AM]

I wonder how many Android apps are going to actually get ported to a tablet UI? Simply upscaling a SmartPhone app without rethinking the UI for a larger screen is horrible.

[Wesscoast Posted Jul 5th 2010 9:20AM]

@UptownDonkey

Trust me... the Open fanboys will take it and like it. Isn't that the Android ethos? Pure chaos? They would be hypocrites if they demand central planning in any way.

Well, the Open religion is BS anyway, we all know what they really want : download warez and steal software.

[BergerFan Posted Jul 5th 2010 4:00AM]

Ship it, or it didn't happen.

[cdf74dc9 Posted Jul 5th 2010 4:16AM]

Very surprise that LG is making an Android tablet. It look sexy too, just like their LCD TV.

[Corsair Posted Jul 5th 2010 5:36AM]

Android tablets... I definatelly like the idea, but I do have some reservations. Android OS in it's current form is not optimized for such large screens and resolutions. Of course I am expecting higher resolutions than the 800x480 in 7 or 10 inch tablet, but how will Android reflect to that? Apps are also non optimized...

I think that Google has some work to do, into unifying the experience across the range (not like Apple iPad which just doubles the size of the iphone apps) and avoiding fragmentation.

[MagnetMan Posted Jul 5th 2010 6:31AM]

@Corsair

Agreed. It would be helpful if you voted with a star to let google know that GPU acceleration in the UI is a priority:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=6914

[MagnetMan Posted Jul 5th 2010 6:28AM]

Android NEEDS GPU acceleration for scrolling in the browser and for the UI. This is especially true for a high resolution tablet device!

Let google know. Vote on the issue here:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=6914

Oh, and I'm looking forward to the LG Tablet!

[Wesscoast Posted Jul 5th 2010 9:16AM]

Dear Jonny Ive,

I wuv uuuuuuu

Kisses,
Samsung

[juanvaldez Posted Jul 5th 2010 8:38PM]

@Wesscoast FYI, Samsung and LG are not the same, this is an LG post. Samsung is the biggest electronics company, by revenue, in the world.

[n11 Posted Jul 5th 2010 10:40AM]

Interesting... Continue.

[jsuber Posted Jul 5th 2010 10:46AM]

I think this is a great plan to get Android on the Tablets. I can't wait to incorporate it into our business platform to communicate with our DDC systems.

[Jordus Posted Jul 5th 2010 11:47AM]

LG can't make a phone to save their life, I won't hold my breath on this tablet.

If Samsung's tablets end up anywhere near the quality of their TV's, we'll be ok.

[neojubei Posted Jul 5th 2010 1:38PM]

who wants to bet this thing does not see mass market this year.

[neojubei Posted Jul 5th 2010 1:40PM]

I love the fact that when apple makes a product the stupid rest of the tech community has to react to it. I blame the idiots at C|net who get their panties in a bunch, especially molly wood, whenever Apple comes out with a product.

[ResidentEVO Posted Jul 5th 2010 3:40PM]

Where's Google's tablet?

[maythetechbewithyou Posted Jul 5th 2010 4:07PM]

I just want a notion ink adam.

[JonHolstein Posted Jul 5th 2010 4:44PM]

LG made the GW990, that got cancelled.
It was using an intel CPU.
So if anything is slightly different with this tablet, its probably that it is running the x68 version of android.

[radarskiy Posted Jul 5th 2010 10:05PM]

A tablet isn't "confirmed" until it's for sale.

[guigsy Posted Jul 6th 2010 3:16AM]

I will be first in line when this goes on sale! Screw the iPod jumbo! I want flash and open source support for the OS!