Don't worry, it's not déjà vu -- these
SmartQ T7 tablets may appear just like their
Ubuntu-riding
R7 sibling, but they offer
Android 2.1, an integrated 3G option, a speedier 720MHz CPU, and a colossal 4,700mAh battery -- 1,400mAh more than before! If that's woken you from the slumber brought on by yet another boilerplate tablet, SmartQ's also boasting support for a similarly impressive range of video codecs, meaning you can grab any RMVB, AVI, MKV and WMV files (even at 1080p) from your various, ahem, sources, and just play them back on the 7-inch LCD (probably at 800 x 600 like the R7) as they are. If you're cool with just WiFi connectivity, then go for the ¥1,480 ($219) T7; if 3G is a must, be prepared to dole out ¥1,880 ($278) and ¥1,980 ($292) for the EVDO and WCDMA flavors of the T7-3G, respectively. And if you're hanging out with China Mobile, price for the TD-SCDMA version's to be confirmed later.
posted July 14th 2010 10:44AM
Low price: check.
Low innovation: check.
@Bhima iPad killer -- negative
@Bhima
I don't know about you, but $200 for a casual device with killer battery life smells like a winner.
@Bhima I love Android but these suck and are an embarrassment next to the iPad.
@Bhima
less innovative than a rebranded, oversized iPod Touch??
I suppose it's not as 'innovative' as the iPad pricing, right?
@itsaddison
These aren't meant to counter the ipad. Just because somebody releases a god damn tablet doesn't mean they're trying to be an ipad killer. This is a cheaper alternative. An ipad killer would be something that is the same size, with better specs and better apps for the same price or cheaper. Stop comparing the netbooks of tablets to the notebook. It makes no sense. lrn2compare.
@kingofwale
That meme doesn't really work anymore. (hint, that's why the iPad is selling so well) iPad applications are mostly a totally different experience than iPhone applications. All that extra UI room opens a lot of doors. If the iPad simply ran iPhone apps scaled up yeah -- your devotion to that meme would make sense but that's not how it is.
@kingofwale Too bad that there's a demand for that "oversized ipod touch". Still waiting for the next table that will sell millions. Oversized mp3 player or whatnot.
@AWINRARISYOU okay that's fine. Do you really think anyone is going to buy any of these Android "tablets" until they are competitive with the iPad? I don't and that's my point. Who is the buyer of this product? I guess we'll see but I doubt we ever hear about this product again.
@itsaddison "who will be the buyer?"
People who don't want to spend $700? Just a thought.
@Bhima
Am I seriously the only person that is VERY interested in this?
@Duckman You are not the only one that's interested in this. For $300 this looks pretty decent.
Someone please tell me where I can get that wallpaper of the Android on the skateboard!!!!
@itsaddison Easy. Ppl who just want a portable ebook reader that offer a little more than just...reading. I don't have use for an iPad, for example, specially considering the price, and Kindle offer too little to me. If I can get a little more for the price of the regular Kindle, I'd certainly get one of these.
This kind of product focus exactly between an iPod and the iPad.
@Plazmic Flame I want that Wallpaper!!!
This is still running a ARM 11. Until we see some Cortex A-8 based CPU's in these types of tablets, who cares.
The answer to the iPad...........wrong answer.
brrrrrrrrr
its cold in china
@tehslax
Uhhh... That's Celsius... ( 24 deg c ~ 75.2 deg f)
@MagnetMan
If you were joking, safely ignore ;)
Capacitive or resistive touchscreen?
For that price, I'm guessing resistive.
too much tablet.. not enough screen
@ajkovar576 Still better than a Kindle. :)
Seriously though, when is someone going to challenge the iPad with a real Android tablet and not these throw-away toys?
@icepop77 I think Moto/Verizon have something in the works..
@EggoEspada I hope so. I'm pretty well "done" with Apple and I kinda don't want to pay the Steve Jobs tax to have a cool tablet.
Nice wallpaper on the right... made by Prash for CM ROMS...
I guess the chinese cant even make their own wallpapers???
@zapote21
Well look at the photo on the left. It's not 2.1, it's 2.2. OR, it's 2.1 with ADWLauncher or LauncherPro Beta. Maybe even another home replacement.
Maybe these are engadget photoshops. I'm too lazy to visit the actual site to find out though.
@beatsandmelody
Nope it's Prash's. Just checked.
I didn't think the iPad is a question that needs an answer.
@glamajamma
Are you trying to be clever or are you really ok with Apple's iPad being the only capable tablet device on the market?
iPad is going to own the tablet market for years, so no such thing as an iPad killer. Let's just get an android tablet that doesn't suck.
@jsbaugh That's the second stupidest thing I ever heard. The first was your parents saying lets have sex. The IPad is sorely wanting niche product and can easily be replaced by any half ass device backed by a reputable company, smart enough not to go after apples dumb core demographic.
@knowitallforgets Really? They are selling a million ipads a month, projected to sell 10 million by the end of the year. Sorry but there isnt any Android tablet that is going to come close to those numbers.
Apple has a huge head start that isnt going to be challenged for a long time. Sure there will be some quality Android tablets but none of them will be as successful as the ipad.
I remember the criticism of the iPad's plain App-based home screen. Will all Android tablet maker just clone Apple or will anyone (anyone) do something uniquely different? I guess with the Linux genes, I don't have much hope for the latter.
@dave95
are you kidding me? Sure you meant clone android?
1. Apple copied the app-based screen layout from other phones (or even from the wii)
2. Android does NOT have a plain app-based home screen: live wallpapers, folders, shortcuts, widgets of multiple sizes.. apple is the one catching up here, they did nothing new in this front, so its very hard to actually "clone" them.
@(Unverified)
Then shouldn't Android Tablets look something like this if they're not copying iPad?
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/11/google-attacks-android-at-mobile-world-congress/
Apple had the same App based layout in their Newton devices back in the day, so lets not go there. http://images.macrumors.com/article/2010/01/13/112924-apple_newton_sml.jpg
My point is everyone were criticizing Apple for using the same App-based screen on the larger iPad and not doing something different. Or taking advantage of the screen real estate. And now every Android Tablet device I see is just doing the same, nothing uniquely different, and no criticism (well except for Cisco Cius it seems)
Haha, Cyanogen Kanged background on the right!
Wait, why would you (commenters, not Engadget) hate on this product? Yes there are plenty of Android tablets (well, announced, not shipping, anyway) out there, what's wrong with a couple more? Lots of companies (Asus, Dell, Toshiba, Acer, HP, and on) makes computers that are mostly the same. Why not tablets? And hey! This runs something above Android 1.6!! That never happens! $219? Not bad, I say. Imagine having a Slingbox app, taking it to a coffee shop where you got some Wifi (or pay for the 3G version if you want) and watching something from there.
Chinese producers never bother use a wallpaper of their own,they just took wallpapers from others and used without permission.
ships with market? sign me up. anyone know if any of the 3G bands are the same here as in china?
@davebu3 ownta says compatible with WCDMA、TD-SCDMA and EVDO 3G network, check here: http://www.ownta.com/smartdevices-smartq-t7-3g-tablet-pc-with-wifi-and-3g-pre-order.html
When will we have some of the latest tech in USA?
Now it all hits China first.
well...they're cute! But still not entirely what I would need from a tablet.
is probably less than $100 in mainland china.
@deedeedee
I disagree. Apparently you're wrong.
why do people in america assume if there not interested no one else in the world is either .... it's a decent product for what it is not meant to be an ipad killer as others have stated it will attract some buyers while others will wait for something more competitive against the ipad .. if i anted something better i could already get a true tablet pc far better than an ipad accept in price because there developed for corporate use not cosumer use and are 3 to 4 times more than ipad so never have never will attract the same attention or sales an ipad will .. so left to wait
@deedeedee LOL, sure it is possible to disagree!
in terms of hardware, its probably the best tablet out there for the moment, with a big difference.
But since its iOS-only its not sufficient that the hardware is better, especially if its an expensive gadget.
These tablets look to be good enough to be enjoyed by many people for a fraction of the iPad's price.
$278 vs $630 is A BIG DIFFERENCE, considering Android does so many things which iOS doesnt, and is sometimes even faster while still providing multitasking (see N1 vs iphone4)
Why would someone pay more than twice as much if they have something which fits better into their bags,has great battery life, is fast enough for their use and provides an excellent OS with lots of apps?
Also, they might want it to have a USB port (surprise!) and still have money left to spend on an keyboard, for example, still for a fraction of the price of a "naked" ipad.
Not everyone can afford an ipad, and probably many can afford a tablet such as this one (or a similar one)
The fact that the ipad sells well has nothing to do with how good it is, otherwise windows would not exist as we know it today.
Sounds wonderful to me, plays mkv has a 700mhz proc 1080p , and costs about $200, niceee
Looks decent.
At the risk of being picky, I hope there will be a black or dark colored version. I'm not a bright white fan.