Hollywood, Fla. –
Augen, the netbook and e-reader supplier that launched an Android-based tablet
through select K mart stores
, unveiled six Wi-Fi-equipped Gentouch models with screen sizes
ranging from 7 inches to 10.2 inches and suggested retails ranging from $199 to
$599.
Select products
will be targeted to different channels of distribution, ranging from mass
merchants, step-up electronic retailers, catalogers, and national distributors,
president Daniel Gofman told TWICE.
Augen’s lineup
includes one model that docks with a large desktop keyboard to provide a
laptop-like 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 multi-touch touch screens, while the other two
feature resistive touch screen.
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, but the company is also
working on Google certification for select models to access Google’s own app
store, Gofman said.
Google doesn’t
license access to its own store from Android-based tablet devices that lack
embedded GPS or that have screen sizes of more than 7 inches, a Google
spokesperson explained.
The six-SKU
selection consists of the Latte and Espresso series.
The Latte series
consists of the $199-suggested Latte and $249 Latte Grande. The espresso series
consist of four SKUs from $349 to $599, all with GPS.
The $199 13-ounce
Latte features touch-sensitive front access controls, G-Sensor, HDMI output, 7-inch resistive 800 by 480 resistive
touchscreen with included soft-tipped stylus, 2GB of built-in flash memory, Wi-Fi-802.11a/b/g/n
and SD card slot supporting up to 16GB cards.
The $249.99 Latte Grande feature 7-inch 800 by
600 multi-touch capacitive screen, 800MHz processor, 2GB built-in flash, Wi-Fi,
MicroSD card slot, three- xis accelerometer, three-axis axis compass, ambient light
sensor to conserve battery power and HDMI output.
The Espresso series starts with the $349
Gentouch Espresso with 800 by 600 7-inch multi-touch capacitive touch screen, Cortex
A9 1GHz CPU processor, forward-facing 3-megapixel camera for video chatting, Bluetooth
2.1+EDR, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, 8GB built-in flash, MicroSD slot, three-axis accelerometer/compass,
on-screen keyboard and ambient light sensor.
The $429.99 Espresso Dolce features 10.2-inch
1,024 by 768 multi touch touchscreen with 4:3 aspect ratio fingerprint-resistant
oleophobic coating, Cortex A8 1GHz processor, Wi-Fi-802.11 a/b/g/n, 8GB
built-in flash, forward-facing 3-megapixel camera for video chats, Bluetooth
2.1 +EDR, three-axis accelerometer/compass, SD MMC slot, HDMI output, ambient light
sensor and on-screen keyboard.
The $599.99 Espresso
Doppio is a dual-boot device that can be booted up using the Android or Ubuntu operating
systems and is positioned as offering the “full functionality of a laptop.” As
such, it features a 10.2-inch, 1,024 by 768 4:3 capacitive multi-touch screen
that detaches from a desktop base that incorporates an LED-backlit QWERTY keyboard.
Other laptop-like features include 512MB Mobile SD RAM, 2.5-inch SATA IDE HDD
160GB hard drive, two USB OTG/ports and a multi-touch track pad. It also
features front-facing 3-megapixel camera, three-axis accelerometer/compass and
1GHz processor.
The Doppio and keyboard base each incorporate a
lithium battery to extend combined battery life to 15 hours.
The $349 Espresso Firma comes with a wireless
pen that lets users write on standard paper and simultaneously transfer the
digital notes to the 7-inch tablet, enabling users to do email and sign
documents. The Firma also features a dual-core processor with the main CPU
operating at 600MHz and an auxiliary CPU operating at 550MHz for digital
command control. Other features include an 800 by 480 7-inch resistive touchscreen
with 800 by 480 resolution, 2GB of built-in flash memory, and Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n.
