Upcoming Tablets to Look Out for

With all the recent announcements in the field of tablet technology we’re going to find it extremely hard deciding on the purchase this year. It’s only March and the choices have already been laid out for us, and let me tell you, it’s not going to be an easy pick. With prices and specs becoming more and more competitive, its best we stay updated on what to expect. With that in mind here’s a short list of some of the tablet devices we’ll be seeing this year, perhaps you’ll be able to decide right now, then all you’ll have to do is just sit back and wait.

Apple iPad 2

This next gen iPad features a 1 GHz dual-core Apple A5 custom-designed which should make it even speedier than the last model. The iPad 2 also boasts of an Oleophobic coating on the display to prevent fingerprints, but that’s what they said about the previous model and I beg to differ. It’s also scratch resistant and this I’ll believe. The device also supports 1080p video out but of course you’re going to need a special cable to hook it up to an HDTV. The design hasn’t changed much, but if it isn’t broken, no need to fix it right.

Apple's latest big hit

The iPad 2 also features -

Motorola Xoom

The Xoom will be the first Android powered table to make it out with Version 3.0 aka Honeycomb. It’ll support s720p video playback in the media department and will, of course, support Adobe Flash 10.2 to enhance your web browsing experience. The 1GHz Dual Core processor will ensure speedy functionality of apps and multitasking. 

Bring that Honeycomb on...

The Xoom features -

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1

Samsung’s newly announced Galaxy Tabs are rated the world’s slimmest tablets at just 8.6mm in depth beating out the iPad two by a few millimeter or so. Although these devices will be out after the Xoom, we, at least have two more Honeycomb infused devices to choose from. Both devices will feature 1GHz dual core processors and sport Samsung’s updated Touchwiz UX interface (4.0) for optimized customization. The company will also preload Readers Hub and Music Hub for eBooks and music on the go with.

Slimmer than the iPad

The new Galaxy Tabs come with -

 BlackBerry PlayBook

What’s interesting about the PlayBook is that it’s quite an extension of the BlackBerry mobile phone. It doesn’t quite come off as a ‘WOW’ product anymore but it’s not something that you can easily dismiss as ‘blah’ either. With a 1GHz Dual Core processor and 1GB RAM backing it up and RIM’s specially designed BlackBerry OS the PlayBook has all the makings of a hit. It also supports 1080p HD video playback so it’s definitely not all about business. It’s equipped to handle Flash 10.1 and has support for HTML 5.

Not all business

The PlayBook is equipped with -

HTC Flyer

An HTC branded tablet has been a long time coming and finally we should be able to see one real soon i.e. the Flyer. It’ll feature a Gingerbread version of Android running on a 1GHz processor and 1GB RAM. HTC’s Sense UI will also make it to this large display and will also feature HTCSense.com that’s designed to help enhance the overall user experience with safety and back up sync features. Adobe’s latest Flash version will be supported so web browsing should be as good as it gets in the mobile platform and thanks to Dolby Mobile and SRS sound enhancement, your audio experience should also be top notch.

Flying high

The Flyer will be quipped with -

LG Optimus Pad

Another world’s first in this list is the upcoming LG Optimus Pad. It’s the only tablet that will feature dual cameras to capture video in 3D (720p). Of course, you’ll require a 3D compatible TV/Monitor to get the best out of it. The Optimus Pad will also be equipped with a 1GHz NvidiaTegra 2 dual-core processor to enable 1080p HD video playback seamlessly. Honeycomb is the platform of the day for this device too.

Loaded up for 3D capture

The Optimus Pad will be featuring –

Notion Ink Adam

The only reason I’m even mentioning the Notion Ink in this list, despite the various controversies  surrounding it, is because it still is a bit of technology that quite a few are still curious about. With any luck it won’t be too long now before it makes its way to our shelves, but just for the record, an Indian company choosing not to launch a product made at home for us here at home, is just wrong. There’s been no official review out for this product yet which also has me a little worried. The Dual Core Nvidia Tegra 250 and Dual Core Cortex A9 processor should make this one seriously fast device though that’ll be great for multitasking and gaming. There’s also a strong possibility that the Adam will be upgradeable to Honeycomb.

Been quite on the Ink front

Here’s a quick look at the features -

There are of course quite a few more tablets that will be making it this year in addition to these but for now, these are what we’re most looking forward to. Tell us what your choices would be.