Written by Heather on Thursday, July 15, 2010

Android Tablets/eReaders Arriving Soon


Velocity Android Tablet

 If last year was the ‘Year of the eReader’, then this year is the ‘Year of the Tablet’.  All the biggest new devices will be some sort of tablet or tablet/eReader hybrid.  Honestly, it makes sense as the next device evolution.  You have an eReader that just lets you read books, magazines, etc.  We don’t have much use for a device that just does one thing.  As a society, we are all about convergence, just look at all things our latest smartphones can do:  phone, camera, music & video player, e-mail, web surfacing, games, etc.  Let’s take a look at the latest announcements:

Velocity Micro announces a series of tablet/eReaders known as the Cruz.  The Cruz is designed to focus on the multimedia experience running on the Android OS.  The prices range from $149 to $299.  That’s cheaper than a netbook.  There are 3 members of the Cruz family:  kid-friendly Cruz StoryPad, Cruz Reader, and Cruz Tablet.  The Cruz StoryPad is the base model with the tablet coming in at $299. 

Cruz StoryPad features:

  • 7” 4:3 800×600 full color touch screen display
  • Simplistic and intuitive navigation
  • High res video and high quality audio playback
  • Pre-installed audio book content – reads classic stories as the child follows along
  • SD card for additional storage
  • Available in pink, blue, and green

    • Cruz Reader additional features:

  • Crystal clear 4:3 ratio, 800×600 full color touch screen display – ideal for viewing ebooks and magazines, plus web pages and movies
  • Google Android Operating System
  • 802.11b/g wifi and full Web browser support
  • High res video and high quality audio playback with no proprietary content restrictions
  • Built-in Dictionary, Notepad, Calendar, Alarm Clock, Contacts, Games, and other useful apps
  • Built in accelerometer, tilt activated
  • Enough built in storage for hundreds of books
  • USB and SD card slot for upgradable storage, including a 2GB SD card
  • Up to 10 hours of use and over 24 hours of standby time, with a replaceable battery
  • Access to over 2 Million ebooks via included Borders E-book library portal application
  • Access to the Cruz Market™, an open content portal for downloading apps, magazines, and videos from a broad array of content providers.

    • Cruz Tablet additional features:

  • 7” 16:9 ratio, 800×480 capacitive display – great for viewing widescreen video
  • 802.11n wifi for faster wireless connectivity
  • Integrated microphone for voice recording
  • 4GB of built in storage with an 8GB SD card in the box for additional storage of high res photos, video, and music

    • The Cruz StoryPad and Reader will be available in August, and the Tablet will be available starting Sept. 1.  For me, this sounds like a great item for travel.  When I’m traveling for pleasure, I just want to be able to check my e-mail, and do a bit of web serving.  I would love to give this tablet a try.   With the Incredible, I have already been exploring the Android world.  The main issue I see is how many apps will be available in the Cruz marketplace.  Apps make or break a device. 

    Via BGR

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