ViewSonic is ready to roll out its
Android-based, 7-inch mini-tablet multitouch device, called the ViewPad, at the
IFA 2010 show in Berlin, which begins Sept. 3. This tablet is expected to compete
against better-known offerings from Apple and Samsung.
In addition to using Android 2.2,
the ViewSonic ViewPad also offers a front-facing camera for video calls and a
3-megapixel camera in the back for snapping pictures. Using the dual cameras
and 3G connectivity for on-the-go video calling is a key feature of the ViewPad
7.
"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,” Derek Wright, a
ViewSonic product marketing manager, said in a statement.
Although ViewSonic markets the
ViewPad as a tablet with phone functionality, initial reports conflict as to
whether the unit will have a built-in earpiece and microphone. However, a user
can make calls via the 3.5-mm headset jack. Additional details should become
available as the IFA 2010 show kicks off.
The Android 2.2 (Froyo) device
reportedly has the same makeup as the Olive Pad VT100 introduced in India in July.
As rumors of a 7-inch Apple iPad swirl, the ViewPad and Samsung Galaxy Pad tablet enter the growing minitab space.
The ViewPad also includes a full-size
SIM card slot, a GPS and
integrated Bluetooth connectivity. The unit's G-sensor accelerometer tilts the
screen depending on how it's held. In addition, the ViewPad has a built-in
e-book reader, taking aim at the Amazon Kindle.
With a 7-inch 800-by-480 screen
and 32GB of storage capability (via microSD), the ViewPad is priced similarly
to the 5-inch Dell Streak tablet, which began presales on Aug. 13,
but slightly more than the 9.7-inch iPad, which starts at $499 for the 16GB
model. (A 32GB iPad costs $729 for Wi-Fi and 3G.)
The ViewPad is expected to launch
in October.
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