More Tablet Makers Set For CES Rollout

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 6 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — More companies could be popping tablets here at International CES than show goers popping aspirin.

Here are just some of the new tablets of the entertainment/ computing kind that CES attendees will be seeing this week:

Aluratek: The e-reader company will launch a tablet. Details were unavailable.

Augen: The netbook and e-reader supplier, which launched an Android-based tablet through select Kmart stores in 2010, is coming to CES with six Wi-Fi-equipped Gentouch models with screen sizes ranging from 7 to 10.2 inches and suggested retails ranging from $199 to $599 in the Latte and Espresso series.

Augen’s lineup includes one model that docks with a large desktop keyboard to provide a laptoplike configuration. Another SKU comes with a digital pen to capture handwriting made on a regular piece of paper. Four feature built-in GPS, and four feature forward-facing camera for video chats. All feature touchscreens, the latest Android 2.2 OS, and 16-pin connector for use with docking/charging stations.

Four of the six models feature capacitive multitouch touchscreens, while the other two feature resistive touchscreens.

The two models in the Latte series also come with Adobe DRM SDK9 technology to purchase and download e-books from authorized sites. The four step-up Espresso series models are upgradable to Android 3.0.

All of the tablets will access Augen’s own SlideME Android-app store.

Coby: The company’s first three tablets, all using the Android OS, consist of 7-, 8- and 10-inch models with resistive touchscreens, Wi-Fi, web browser, FM tuner, MicroSD slot to expand memory, 1080p HDMI output with included cable, USB 2.0 port with included cable and two embedded speakers. They also come with Coby media manager to access stored audio, video, and photos. World alarm clock, calendar and game apps are included. They’ll be available in the first quarter in 4GB and 8GB versions.

Cydle: The company plans early in the second quarter to update its current Android-based tablet to add embedded ATSC-M/H DTV tuner.

The current tablet, which became available in December, is the $249 M7 Mobile tablet. The ATSC-M/H version will be priced at $299.

Enspert: The Seoul-based company launched its first tablet, the Android-based Identity Tab, in its domestic market in 2010 with Wi-Fi.

Earlier this year, the company launched the  Android-based Identity Tab in its domestic market with Wi-Fi. At CES, the company will show ther Wi-Fi version as well as a Wi-Fi/3G version with embedded HSPA cellular data modem, global sales director Bobby Cha told TWICE. Both versions will use the Android 2.2 OS but are upgradeable to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and Android Honeycomb, which Google said is specifically optimized for tablet devices.

The 3G version will operate in the U.S. 800/1900MHz U.S. bands.

Late in the first quarter, the company will launch a dongle to add ATSC-M/H mobile-DTV tuning to the devices.

The Identity Tab features 7-inch capacitive multitouch screen, 1GHz CPU, 8GB of embedded memory, GPS, accelerometer, 3-megapixel camera, preinstalled ebook reader and Microsoft Office for document viewing and editing, as well as DLNA certification to share content via Wi-Fi with TVs, PCs, and phones.

The Wi-Fi version with ATSC-M/H will be available in the U.S. through Best Buy at around $300. The 3G version will be available in the U.S. in time for back-toschool sales, he said.

iStation: The Korean company plans early 2011 delivery of the Zood 3D tablet, which uses polarized glass to display 3D images without glasses and provides 2D to 3D conversion. It features Android 2.1 OS, 7-inch 800 by 480 capacitive touchscreen, 1080p with HDMI output, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, web browser, A/V playback, USN 2.0 Host, HDMI 1.3 output, composite-video output, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, SDHC card slot, e-book reader, document viewer, dictionary and gravity sensor for use in playing games. It comes in 16GB and 32GB versions. Pricing was unavailable.

Naxa Electronics: The company’s first Android tablet and first combination e-reader/multimedia player are on tap.

The tablet is the $149-suggested Android-based The Core, or NMI-1500. It was to be shipping by CES. The NMI-1500 features 7-inch color LCD touchscreen, Wi-Fi, gravity sensor to rotate the display into portrait or landscape mode, web browser, email capabilities, SDHC card slot, USB inputs, 720p HDMI output and embedded 8GB memory.

The e-reader/multimedia player is the $109-suggested NER-1400 with full wireless capabilities. It was to be available by CES with 7-inch 800 by 480 TFT LCD screen, 90-degree screen rotation via a gravity sensor, built-in speakers, SD card slot and embedded 4GB memory. It supports multiple e-book formats with skip, save and bookmark functions and supports multiple audio, video and digital-image formats with audio rates to 320kbps for MP3 and WMA files.

Noah: The Chinese company will enter the tablet business under the Envizen Digital brand with five Android models in 7-, 8- and 10-inch sizes. Additional details were unavailable.

In a related category, Noah will offer a 7-inch tablet that streams video wirelessly from a TV set, set-top box or Blu-ray/DVD player. The Home Roam TV communicates wirelessly up to 100 feet with a video source whose A/V output is connected to a proprietary wireless module. Users can change channels from the handheld device, which runs on rechargeable batteries for up to two hours. Retail pricing is anticipated at $159.

Sungale: The Chino, Calif., company plans to launch its first Android tablets sometime this year, having released a Linux tablet in 2009.

The two models in the Cyberus line are the 10.1-inch ID1010WTA at a targeted $329 and a 7-inch ID708WTA at a targeted $229. They feature Android 2.2 OS, 3D gaming, 3D gaming applications with the integrated 3D accelerator, e-book reader and compatibility with Microsoft Office. The 7-inch model features front-facing cameras for video chats.

The 0.75-inch-thick ID1010WTA features 10.1-inch high-definition touchscreen, HDMI 1.3 mini port, removable 1700mAH battery that supports up to four hours of continuous use, and built-in Wi-Fi 802.11b/g for access to the Web and to more than 20,000 applications from the Android Market.

The 7-inch model LED-backlit widescreen display, embedded front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera, 2GB of internal memory, MicroSD card slot for up to 32GB of memory expansion, and built-in 1600mAh battery offering three hours of continuous use. Standard preloaded applications include Google maps, MSN and Google Talk instant messenger and more. With Google Maps, users get their current position on a map when connected to a Wi-Fi source.

The company will expand its selection of Kula TV PMPs to add 5- and 7-inch touchscreen models, joining a 4.3-inch model launched last year a suggested $200. The 4.3-inch model accesses more than 500 subscription- free IPTV channels arranged by country, language and topic, including news, sports and finance.

Sylvania: Digital Gadgets, which markets small electronics under the Sylvania name, shipped its first tablet to Sears in November, and it’s coming to CES with two more tablets, both priced at less than $200.

The Sears tablet was based on the Android 2.1 OS, but one of the two new tablets will run on the Android 2.2. The other new one will run on the Windows Compact 7 OS. Both feature 7-inch touchscreen, but the Android model uses a resistive touchscreen, while the Windows 7 model uses capacitive touchscreen.

The Android version will retail for $129. Pricing on the Windows 7 version was unavailable. Shipments start in the first and second quarters.

Features on both include Wi-Fi, expandable memory capacity and USB ports. Additional details were unavailable.

ViewSonic: The company will show its first three tablets. They are an Android 2.2-based ViewPad 7 with 7-inch touchscreen; 10-inch Android 2.2-based gTablet; and 10-inch ViewPad 10, a dual-boot tablet that boots up in the user’s choice of either Android 1.6 or Windows 7. All feature Wi-Fi, but the ViewPad 7 adds a SIM card slot to adds circuit-switched cellular voice and 3G data.

As of mid-December, the gTablet was available, the ViewPad 7 was available for preorder, and the View- Pad 10 was on track for first-quarter availability at an expected $629.