Panasonic's Android-based Viera Tablet unveiled at CES 2011

Panasonic has just revealed the Viera tablet at its CES 2011 press conference. What we know so far is that it's Android based and will be available in 4, 7, and 10-inch sizes. Besides the difference in screen size, each of the tablets will feature identical hardware. Panasonic is positioning the device mainly as a TV companion. Using a feature called Viera Connect, tablet owners will have the flexibility to transfer content between the tablet and TV -- or even view the same content simultaneously from different angles. The tablet will also function as a remote for controlling home theater components and content. Pricing in the US is unlikely to be announced in the near term.

Vizio Tablet hands-on preview

 

 

We just had our first in-depth experience with the Vizio Tablet, the company's opening overture into the world of Android slates, and we've got to say -- we like what we see. The device -- which was just announced Monday afternoon along with the company's new smartphone, the Vizio Phone -- is still rather unfinished (the model we looked at was a hand-built device), but based on this early look, the company is moving down the right roads.
The hardware itself is extremely clean, but manages to retain some personality. The device is about the same thickness as the iPad, and has a similar glossy black front and bezel, though around back you're treated to a stylish, matte gray finish. The screen itself is an 8-inch LCD clocking in at 1024 x 768 (pixel density looks tighter than the iPad, due largely in part to that smaller screen), and is fairly responsive to touch -- though again, the software is quite early. Since this isn't an IPS display, the viewing angles weren't mind-blowing, but they seemed perfectly acceptable. Inside, there's a "1GHz plus" CPU, though the company wouldn't fess up to the make and model. Likewise on the memory, but there is 4GB of storage inside (2GB for user, 2GB for the OS), but there's a microSD slot present. Speaking of, along the bottom of the tablet is a Micro USB and HDMI port, a volume rocker on the right side, two speakers on the top (when in portrait), and another speaker on the right side (when in landscape). That's of particular note, because the company has partnered on with SRS on a surround sound emulation that works in both orientations. It's pretty damn cool. Also cool? The device has an IR blaster built in to the top (in portrait), and it can function as a universal remote.
The tablet is running Android, though Vizio didn't say what version. To our eyes it looked like a variation on 2.2 or 2.3 -- we didn't see any indication that it was Honeycomb. There's still some rough animation and very buggy aspects to the UI, but many of the ideas are incredibly solid, like the notification window which groups by application and age, as well as the ability to create your own folders or groups of applications and quickly page through them. The tablet is meant as a component of the company's VIA Plus ecosystem, meaning there are going to be a lot of hooks into Vizio HDTVs and other products the company produces.
Vizio isn't talking about price, though reps were emphatic about being "very competitive" with players in the market. We also didn't get a solid release date, but the company is targeting a summer launch. We're going to try and get some more face time with this device as the company builds out the OS and gets some final hardware.

MSI shows off tablet concept with an integrated projector

We're not sure how we missed this concept tablet at CES a few weeks ago -- oh right, there were over 40 something tablets hanging around! -- but MSI's projector-equipped Windows 7 slate sure is an interesting one. Yep, in addition to its crazy Butterfly and Angelow all-in-ones, MSI cobbled together a rather chunky, Atom-powered, 10-inch tablet with a built-in swivel projector. We don't have any details on the projector itself -- no lumens or resolution -- but according to Notebook Italia, it can be maneuvered to display on a wall or even flipped around to project downward onto a table. A MSI rep implied that the latter function could be used to enable some sort of laser projected keyboard (we're imagining it to be a lot like this one from Light Blue Optics), but there's no actual software in place for that yet. That seems to be a popular feature in concepts these days (see Mozilla's amazing Seabird) -- now just give us the real thing! Hit the source link for a few more shots of MSI's tablet / projector contraption.

Updated: Our friends at NetbookNews spotted a video of the concept tablet on TBreak. As you'd expect this looks like one unfinished product, but hit the break to check it out for yourself.

 

India's $35 tablet delay dashes hopes, destroys dreams

College students eagerly awaiting India's ambitious $35 tablet are going to have to put their dreams on hold -- there's been a delay. Earlier this week, the Times of India reported that the Indian government dropped HCL Technologies, the company responsible for manufacturing the great democratic tablet, for failing to follow through on the 600 million rupee (or $13,198,416) guarantee -- apparently a disagreement over production costs is to blame. Last summer, the country's Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal, made a number of appearances toting a mockup of the Android-based tablet, and promising a launch date of January 15th. Officials say the project is still on track and should be ready this summer. However, while the government seeks a replacement for HCL, skeptics continue to sound warnings that parts alone will cost more than $35. We'd like to chalk this up to haters hating, but we can't seem to forget what became of the $10 laptop.

Galaxy Tab gets 1.2GHz overclock, very scary warning

It's here, what looks to be the world's first attempt at overclocking a Samsung Galaxy Tab. User Bauxite at the always happening xda-developers forums has posted the way to boosting Samsung's hunk of burning Android up to 1.2GHz -- along with some seriously stern warnings:

THIS KERNEL MAY NOT WORK ON YOUR DEVICE, MIGHT DESTROY YOUR DEVICE, MIGHT PUNCH YOUR CHILDREN, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS KERNEL, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK

Initial user reports are generally positive but, given the risk and the complexity here we think we'll be staying at the stock 1GHz speed. For now, anyway.