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Google Unveils Android 'Honeycomb' Tablet

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i-hear-google-doesn't-render dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "Google Mobile Platform VP Andy Rubin unveiled the very first Android 'Honeycomb' tablet. While very few specs were released about the device, it is said to be a sleek, black, Motorola tablet that is roughly 10" and runs a NVidia dual core CPU. The device has a very clean homepage and the app page looked almost Apple iPad-like. In fact, the Gmail app looked almost exactly like Gmail on the iPad. According to Andy Rubin, Honeycomb should release some time next year, and most major OEMs planning on building Android tablets have expressed interest in using this version of the Android platform."

11 of 187 comments (clear)

  1. Please. by Pojut · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Give me these four things, and I'll buy it in a second:

    1. Wireless-N
    2. Built-in Bluetooth (think external controller used for emulators and games.)
    3. SDHC card slot
    4. At least one standard USB slot (preferably USB 3.0, but even 2.0 would be fine...just so long as it's a standard port without any proprietary nonsense.)

    For the love of Jim Darkmagic, PLEASE FREAKIN' INCLUDE THESE FOUR THINGS.

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Please. by Fnkmaster · · Score: 4, Informative

      The Viewsonic G Tablet has all those things, and can be purchased now for less than $400 at Sears or Staples in the US. The Advent Vega is very similar over in the UK, with much better stock software.

      The G Tab supports Wireless N (I haven't tested this personally, I just have 802.11b/g, but it supposedly does), it has built-in bluetooth, it has an SD slot that supports SDHC cards, and it has a standard USB port (well, USB-mini, but totally standard) that supports USB host mode.

      The only issues with it are the out-of-the-box software completely sucks and is dog slow, you need to be comfortable flashing your own ROMs from XDA Developers to get much value out of it at this point, and to do a tiny bit of hacking to get the Market working properly. And the LCD screen is just not as nice as the IPS screen on the iPad, for example, and that's not a software-fixable issue.

      I'm running the VEGAn ROM on it right now, which is a port of the Advent Vega software, and it's running great with Froyo. Things will only get better when Gingerbread and Honeycomb are here.

      I'm hopeful the next generation of Tegra 2 tablets will be made with better LCD screens. That's what's really necessary to make an iPad-beating device right now.

      Ironically, the diversity of Android devices and screen resolutions mean that quite a bit of the existing Android apps in Google's Market run much better on the G Tab than iPhone software ran on the iPad at its release.

  2. Re:meh by Daniel+Phillips · · Score: 4, Interesting

    just a large android, too awkward to use as a phone, too big to carry around, what's the point?

    Exactly my reaction to iPad when Apple announced it. I was wrong, there are plenty of uses for a tablet form factor. Two in my immediate world: 1) A computer that fits in the flap of my camera back to which I can upload photos for in-the-field high res slideshow. 2) A touchscreen program controller for my synth keyboard.

    With a bluetooth keyboard and stand, should be perfectly able to replace a netbook or laptop for road trips. Subject to replacing lame Android interface with a real desktop like KDE of course.

    --
    Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
  3. Apple-biased much? by denzacar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    but the app page looked almost Apple iPad-like. Plus, when Rubin brought up the Gmail app, it looked almost exactly like Gmail on the iPad.

    Seriously? Gmail app looked a lot like a Gmail app - but on the iPad?
    Wow! How does that compare to the likeness to say... Gmail?

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  4. video on engadget by slshwtw · · Score: 4, Informative

    Engadget has the video.

  5. Re:meh by Darkness404 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Except for the fact that netbooks are cheap and not limited. While undoubtedly you are going to be able to do more with the Honeycomb tablet than an iPad and it will be cheaper, netbooks still are the way to go for laptop replacements. I can buy a netbook for a bit less than $300 that can do most of the things a tablet can do for a lot cheaper.

    --
    Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
  6. Re:meh by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Funny

    too big to carry around

    Honeycomb's Big!
    Yeah yeah yeah!
    It's not Small!
    No no no!

  7. Re:meh by Enderandrew · · Score: 4, Informative

    For $450 you can buy a decent convertible netbook/tablet that does both.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  8. Re:meh by slim · · Score: 4, Informative

    Apple sells a camera kit [...] for thirty bucks

    Of course if it had a USB socket in the first place -- and some very standard drivers -- you could use a generic MicroSD adapter for $5.

  9. It is all about the battery life by 0x537461746943 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The big advantage to the iPad for me is that it lasts all day on battery with just about constant usage. I know that it is always available if I need it without needing to find an outlet. I sometimes go 2 days without charging it. That nvidia dual core CPU I have a feeling will drain the batteries pretty quickly when something makes heavy use of it. I sure hope they put a big battery in it. If they do I would probably end up getting one. If it only lasts 5 hours on battery under medium use then it will be useless to me.

  10. Re:meh by RapmasterT · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For $450 you can buy a decent convertible netbook/tablet that does both.

    yes, it does both less well than either of each. Convertibles give you all the bulk and weight of a laptop, combined with an OS that wasn't designed for tablet use. What's not to love?