LAS VEGAS — In a tablet market that is growing but at a slower pace, suppliers are launching the following new products with an eye towards niche markets and new features here at International CES:
Audiovox, one of the Voxx International brands, has developed a tablet designed expressly for in-vehicle installation.
The $299-suggested Rear Seat Entertainment In- Vehicle Tablet Solution consist of an 8-inch Android tablet that docks into the back of an included headrest for viewing video and playing games.
Because the tablet is secured to the headrest, parents don’t have to worry about it flying through the air in case of accident or abrupt stop, the company said. The device also represents a new era in rear-seat entertainment in which “we slowly move away from what was the customary DVD,” the company added.
The solution includes a custom-designed headrest that matches a factory headrest in material, color, stitching and piping. The headrest incorporates a docking port in back to attach and change the tablet, which can be removed and used outside the car.
The Google-certified tablet uses FM transmitter or Bluetooth to stream audio to a factory radio. Bluetooth also allows for private listening through Bluetooth headphones.
The tablet also features a built-in rechargeable battery, HDMI, MicroSD slot, and MiniUSB as well as Bluetooth, headphone inputs, front and rear cameras, and built-in speaker and microphone.
A ship date was unavailable.
E Fun is adding three tablets to its Nextbook line, two of which are Nextbook’s first quad-core tablets. All are also the company’s first with a narrow bezel. All feature Android 4.2 OS and access to the Google Play store. One is the company’s first 10.1-inch tablet.
All three also have an capacitive HD touchscreen, dual-core GPU, 1G RAM, 8GB flash memory, 0.3-megapixel front camera, 2-megapixel rear camera, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, over-the-air update capability, Nook e-book store for the U.S., Kobo e-book store for Canada and MicroSD card slot for expansion.
The 7-inch model features dual-core 1GHz processor, and the 8- and 10.1-inch models feature 1.6GHz quad-core processors.
The $99-suggested 7-inch tablet comes equipped with a 16:9 1,024 by 600 screen and 3,000 mAh battery, while the $129 8-inch tablet has a 4:3 1,024 by 768 display and 4,000 mAh battery. The $169 10.1- inch tablet features a 1,024 by 600 16:9 display and 6,000 mAh battery.
Kurio is a kid-targeted brand, offered by Techno Source and KD Interactive, and is launching its latest Android tablet, the Kurio 7s. It is the brand’s first tablet with embedded cellular modem, which operates on Verizon’s 4G LTE network.
KD Interactive of France is the manufacturer, and Techno Source, a division of LF Products (a Li & Fung company), is the distributor for North America.
On display in the Kids@Play TechZone in the Venetian Ballroom, the Kurio 7s features parental controls that enable families to create up to eight user profiles, each offering full separation of files, apps, game progress and scores, downloads, parental control settings and the like. Parents determine each child’s level of Internet access, choosing from recommended settings by child age, blocking specific websites and inappropriate terms, or by creating safe lists. The Kurio Genius Internet filtering system with daily auto updates covers more than 450 million websites in 170 different languages. Parents can also set daily time limits and manage applications by profile, including restricting web access by app.
The new 4G LTE device also features advanced controls designed especially for mobile access via the Verizon cellular network, including geo-location, data management and remote administration.
Lenovo is illustrating that tablet usage is a key feature of most of the company’s new Windows 8.1 computing devices, which consist of the Miix 2 detachable three-mode laptop, ThinkPad 8 multi-mode business-ready tablet, Yoga 2 convertible laptop with four modes, and the Flex 14D and 15D dual-mode convertible laptops. Prices and ship dates were unavailable at press time.
Meebox brand is announcing the Meebox Slate 8, an ultra-mobile tablet that runs full Windows 8. It features HDMI, USB 3.0 and 3.5mm aux-in ports, as well as stereo speakers, rear and front camera, 32GB MicroSD slot and Wi-Fi. Advanced versions come with 4G LTE data.
Naxa is offering its first Google-certified tablets, which consist of two 7-inch capacitive multitouch models priced at a suggested $79 and $99. Both are Google-certified models that access the Google Play store.
The NID-7010 features a 1GHz dual-core CPU, 512MB RAM, 4GB flash memory, Android 4.2 , front and rear cameras, 800 by 480 16:9 screen, 1080p storage, external 3G USB dongle, SDHC/SDXC slot, USB interface, HDMI support, gravity sensor and a 2,400 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery.
The step-up NID-7011 features a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB flash memory, Android 4.2, Bluetooth 3.0, front and rear cameras, 1,024 by 600 display, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, external 3G USB dongle, SDHC/ SDXC slot, USB interface, HDMI support, gravity sensor and a 2,400 mAh lithiumion polymer battery.
Polaroid has a new SI series consisting of the company’s first three models with quad-core processor. All feature 1.5GHz quad-core processor and Android 4.4 KitKat OS. Like their predecessors, they access the Google Play store.
Other improvements over previous models include improved battery life, new design aesthetics and improved speakers, the company said. All ship in the spring.
The series starts with the $129 Q7 with 7-inch 1,024 by 600 display, 1GB RAM, Wi-Fi, HDMI, Bluetooth, front speaker, 8GB flash memory, and front and rear cameras.
The $149 Q8 features an 8-inch 1,024 by 768 display, 1GB RAM, Wi-Fi, HDMI, Bluetooth, front speaker, 8GB memory, and front and rear cameras.
At $179, the Q10 has a 10.1-inch 1,024 by 600 display, 1GB RAM, Wi-Fi, HDMI, Bluetooth, dual stereo speakers, 16GB memory, and front and rear cameras.
Tarantula, the Mexico-based High Computing brand, is launching the P.O.S 20.14 and unveiling a specialized 7-inch Android tablet for such industries as medical and commercial. The tablet features front and rear cameras, RFID module and barcode reader, Cortex A9 processor, 1GB RAM, capacitive LED, micro-port USB port, nearfield communications (NFC) technology, Wi-Fi, GPS and a fingerprint scanner. It also comes with an antibacterial cover with a medical certification.
Vivitar is introducing four kid-oriented tablets in its XO and Camelio product families, all of which run the Android KitKat OS.
The two XO-family tablets are the $149 XO and the $199 XO Large, the former with a 7-inch display and the latter with 10.1-inch screen. Both are powered by a quad-core processor and feature 8GB of storage, 1GB of DDR3 memory, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. They also feature 2-megapixel front camera and 5-megapixel main camera. The XO offers seven hours of battery life, and the XO Large delivers 12 hours.
The Camelio line features the $99 Camelio+ 7-inch tablet and the $79 Camelio Mini with 4.3-inch screen.
The 7-inch tablet features 8GB of storage, 1GB of memory, dual-core processor, and 1.2-megapixel front and 2-megapixel rear cameras. Battery life is rated at seven hours. The Mini tablet features 4GB of storage, 256MB of DDR3 memory, single-core processor and 1.2-megapixel rear camera. Battery life is rated at five hours.
Yifang Digital is launching a 7-inch tablet with 3G phone calling, dual-core 1.3GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 1,024 by 600 WSVGA screen, 0.3-megapixel front camera, GPS and Bluetooth. Additional details were unavailable.
