Developing: Sony has just announced the debut of its S1 and S2 tablet devices.
Both tablets feature the Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS and carry the Playstation Suite branding, but are designed in very different ways.
The 9.4″ S1 features a “magazine-style” design, incorporates front- and rear-facing cameras, a Tegra 2 chipset, and a “Quick and Smooth” touch interface. The device is aimed at multimedia, including the company’s new “Swift” web browser and the Playstation Suite, a collection of PS1 games designed for play on touch screens. Shown during the just-completed press conference was a demo of Crash Bandicoot (yay?) on the device with on-screen buttons and joystick, similar to how touch screen sticks work on the iPad. The device can even be used as a remote for several Sony devices and television sets via infrared.
More interestingly, the S2 tablet incorporates two 5.5-inch screens in a clamshell. The on-screen Playstation buttons remain mostly on the bottom screen, with the L & R buttons awkwardly on the top touch screen. It’s like a higher-def Nintendo DS, with better touch screens and no games that we’ll actually want.
Both tablets are due in the Fall, which is ample time for the inevitable iPad 3 and iPhone 5 rumors to essentially kill them before release.
The sarcasm is brought to you by the accidental decaf coffee I just drank. Damn you, Folgers.
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