Android Devices
Toshiba announces their Android tablet for Q4, the Folio 100
September 2, 2010 | by Chris Smith
Tablets
Well, with a ton of Android tablets being announced this week at IFA you didn’t think that Toshiba would let Samsung steal all of the Android tablet limelight, did you? It appears that the electronics manufacturer is going in head-first with Android as well with the new Toshiba Folio 100 that should be making it to the European market in Q4.
The tablet has all of the specs that you would expect in a "high performance" Android tablet. It boasts a 1024×600 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, 16GB of internal storage, Tegra 2 architecture, WiFi, HDMI-out, a 1.3MP webcam for video calls, an SD expansion slot, and Android 2.2 at a price of €399. Toshiba also has included some apps like Documents To Go, Evernote, Opera, and a Toshiba Media Player for some extra customization which, depending on your opinion, may or may not be needed. It all sounds great but according to Engadget the build quality and performance of the device is somewhat lacking. Also, something different from the Samsung Galaxy Tab is that there is no 3G access for voice calls or data.
So, it appears that we are finally going to see some of these Android tablets that we have heard so much about in the past few months/years. I highly doubt that this tablet or the Samsung Galaxy Tab will impact the sales of the iPad as there is way more marketing behind that device. But, at the very least we geeks get to have a choice of some compelling slate devices near the end 2010.
Via [Engadget]
All these companied combined again will not be able to sell as much as iPad. Because both samsung and toshiba has significant problems. Samsung does not hdmi output and uses propitiatory connection, touchwiz. Toshiba has no back camera, lack of quality in built, no 3G, no GOOGLE for gods sake!. And they are asking 399 euros. I bet galaxy tab will be at least 399, probably more likely to be 499. I am sorry I love android and all, but I hate when companies do this. They think they are competing with apple, but they try to charge same amount of money for their devices. Sorry samsung sorry toshiba. I think I will wait for either you guys produce something better, or sell for less.
It's not that hard to compete with totally useless, which is what the ipood.. I mean iPad is. No common inputs or outputs, proprietary everything, no front camera, no direct file access, no Flash. Flashy, yes. Trendy, yes. Pretentious, yes. Useful, NO.
And look at the sales numbers. They are completely closed, managed with a dictatorship. However, people does not care too much if it is open source or closed (except people like you and me). They want more apps, usability, good design, speed, trendy, easy access to apps, to music etc. Android might be (and is ) a great mobile operating system, but these companies should stop trying to push crappy hardware etc. and start giving people good stuff. For example, i don't understand why samsung would put that stupid connector on tab. Why not use a standard. Provide HD capabilities, but why not provide hdmi. Why should I buy another connector for HDMI. And rumors for tab's pricing floats around 600-700 euros. I am a student and I am developing android applications, but I don't see how I can afford a tablet like this. If it is expensive like hell. And we don't know if they are going to be locked down to any particular carrier in US.