Google VP shows off prototype Android-based Motorola tablet
Andy Rubin, the mastermind behind Google's Android mobile operating system, demoed a prototype Android-based tablet from Motorola on Monday at this week's 
Dive Into Mobile Conference.
The prototype was running Honeycomb, the tablet-optimized 3.0 version of Android OS due out "sometime next year," and will sport a "dual core 3D" processor, an NVIDIA processor and video chat, Engadget reports.
Rubin, a former Apple engineer who now oversees development of Google's Android initiatives, teased the tablet during an interview with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher of The Wall Street Journal.
During the interview, Rubin also showed off the just announced Nexus S smartphone, a flagship Android device that Google and Samsung are partnering together on. The Nexus S will ship with Gingerbread, Android version 2.3.
After Rubin revealed details about next year's Android version 3.0, Mossberg asked Rubin: is Honeycomb "a version that happens to work on tablets, or is it for tablets?" To which, Rubin replied "It's a bit of both."
In October, Apple CEO Steve Jobs downplayed the threat that Android tablets present for the iPad. "Even Google is saying don't use Froyo [the current release of Android OS], and instead to wait to use next years' version. What does it mean when a software maker says not to use their release and you use it anyway?" said Jobs during an earnings call.
With Google's Honeycomb Android update customized specifically for tablets, the rivalry between iOS and Android should heat up next year. Samsung released the Galaxy Tab, the first major touchscreen tablet based on Android earlier this year, selling 600,000 units in the first month of availability, less than the iPad, which reached one million sales in just 28 days. Initial reviews of the Galaxy Tab were generally positive, though some reviewers complained about the pricing and stability of the device.
Motorola and Apple are currently embroiled in a series of patent lawsuits against each other over smartphone, mobile and wireless technologies. Most recently, Apple added 12 more patents to its lawsuit against Motorola, bringing the total count to 24. Meanwhile, Motorola is trying to have those patents dismissed through a declaratory judgment.
Dive Into Mobile Conference.The prototype was running Honeycomb, the tablet-optimized 3.0 version of Android OS due out "sometime next year," and will sport a "dual core 3D" processor, an NVIDIA processor and video chat, Engadget reports.
Rubin, a former Apple engineer who now oversees development of Google's Android initiatives, teased the tablet during an interview with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher of The Wall Street Journal.
During the interview, Rubin also showed off the just announced Nexus S smartphone, a flagship Android device that Google and Samsung are partnering together on. The Nexus S will ship with Gingerbread, Android version 2.3.
After Rubin revealed details about next year's Android version 3.0, Mossberg asked Rubin: is Honeycomb "a version that happens to work on tablets, or is it for tablets?" To which, Rubin replied "It's a bit of both."
In October, Apple CEO Steve Jobs downplayed the threat that Android tablets present for the iPad. "Even Google is saying don't use Froyo [the current release of Android OS], and instead to wait to use next years' version. What does it mean when a software maker says not to use their release and you use it anyway?" said Jobs during an earnings call.
With Google's Honeycomb Android update customized specifically for tablets, the rivalry between iOS and Android should heat up next year. Samsung released the Galaxy Tab, the first major touchscreen tablet based on Android earlier this year, selling 600,000 units in the first month of availability, less than the iPad, which reached one million sales in just 28 days. Initial reviews of the Galaxy Tab were generally positive, though some reviewers complained about the pricing and stability of the device.
Motorola and Apple are currently embroiled in a series of patent lawsuits against each other over smartphone, mobile and wireless technologies. Most recently, Apple added 12 more patents to its lawsuit against Motorola, bringing the total count to 24. Meanwhile, Motorola is trying to have those patents dismissed through a declaratory judgment.
Comments
Game On!
Most likely Verizon's Motorola 10 inch Stingray featuring a dual-core Terga 2 processor, 1gb RAM, crazy fast GPU, and all that Android Honeycomb goodness.
Game On!
I too think it?s most likely referencing the Moto Stingray, but what I don?t understand is where you obtain info on a crazy fast GPU and 1GB RAM. The last I read is it was rumoured to have 512MB RAM and there was no data on the specific GPU to be used.
So much for Google trying to convince everyone that Android intended for tablets.
I recall Google saying that Android wouldn?t be tablet-ready until v3.0. I assume this prototype is showing a beta of v3.0 to be released next year.
Mind you I fully expect the mainstream tech media to compare the current iPad to Motorola's unreleased product, despite it being months away from release.
android is andy rubin's brainchild. andy rubin is not the brainchild behind android.
"Andy Rubin, the brainchild behind Google's Android mobile operating system..."
android is andy rubin's brainchild. andy rubin is not the brainchild behind android.
Good point. Thanks for catching that.
Looking over the photos I can?t imagine doing any heavy reading on that thing.
Why? For reading I don't see any difference between this and an iPad and I frequently use my iPad for reading. I've actually stopped using my Sony ebook reader in favor of the iPad.
Why? For reading I don't see any difference between this and an iPad...
The aspect ratios are very different.
I have an iPhone 4. I'm interested in getting an Android phone to replace my 4. However, I will never switch to an Android phone unless I can upgrade my Android OS like I can do with my iPhone. I think it is very poor form on Google's part to make me have to get a new phone to have the latest version of the Android OS. Just stupid.
Not true, as all modern Android devices are eligible for updates, and only much older hardware gets left out, just as older iPhones/iPod Touch device don't get the latest iOS updates.
I have an iPhone 4. I'm interested in getting an Android phone to replace my 4. However, I will never switch to an Android phone unless I can upgrade my Android OS like I can do with my iPhone. I think it is very poor form on Google's part to make me have to get a new phone to have the latest version of the Android OS. Just stupid.
Android app size is limited to 25 MB. That's why there's no great media apps and games for Android.
I have an iPhone 4. I'm interested in getting an Android phone to replace my 4. However, I will never switch to an Android phone unless I can upgrade my Android OS like I can do with my iPhone. I think it is very poor form on Google's part to make me have to get a new phone to have the latest version of the Android OS. Just stupid.
Get a nexus device then. Vanilla android, always latest OS.
Android app size is limited to 25 MB. That's why there's no great media apps and games for Android.
You may have been misinformed, as Let's Golf on my Galaxy Tab running Android 2.2/Froyo is some 101MB (on the device not the microSDHC card).
I don't know how you can use devices restricted to Verizon's very slow, by HSDPA/HSUPA standards, CDMA Rev A 3G network.
Not true, as all modern Android devices are eligible for updates, and only much older hardware gets left out, just as older iPhones/iPod Touch device don't get the latest iOS updates.
Is the GPS on that thing as bad as the Galaxy S?
My friend showed me how his running software added a couple of miles to his run, giving him an average speed fast enough to win gold in the 100 meters at the Olympics and leave Forest Gump for dead.
btw Modern Combat 2 Black Pegasus, weighs in at 800MB on my iPhone 4.
You may have been misinformed, as Let's Golf on my Galaxy Tab running Android 2.2/Froyo is some 101MB (on the device not the microSDHC card).
Rubin ... teased the tablet