So, take a moment and think which major electronics manufacturer hasn’t got a tablet in the works? Yes. Sony, well this might be changing. Sure they made prototypes, but the rumour mill has been pretty baron regarding a tablet that could take on Apple’s iPad. Well that is until today.
All we got with regards to evidence is a crappy drawing that could easily have been done on the back of a beer mat. But according to those in the know at Engadget – reliable sources close to Sony have said that the manufacturer has amassed a team of people from its Reader, Vaio, Xperian amd Playstation divisions to make an engineering team to break new ground with a new 9.4 inch honeycomb tablet.
According to one of the sources, Sony’s custom-built transitions and UI elements have created a user experience that rivals and at times improves upon the iPad’s renowned experience. The tablet itself, we’re told, is 100 percent focused on Qriocity, Sony’s music, games, ebooks, and videos on demand service that’s just been launched in Europe.
This means that the tablet with come preloaded with PS One games, a Bravia media remote, and yes Playstation integration – but were not sure whether this means remote play or whether it will be Playstation Suite Certified. But we’d expect it to be fully intergrated into the Playstation eco-system.
The design is an interesting way to go too – with a bulge at one end to aid in holding it with one hand and it’s supposed to make the tablet easier to touch type on – and with a slight angle when placed flat – we can see this.
So even though the S1 is about the same size and weight as Apple’s iPad, we’ve been informed that it feels lighter since most of the weight is shifted directly into the user’s hand and over the wrist. Naturally, the screen UI rotates allowing for right- or left-handed use and we’re told that it’s still comfortable to hold in landscape mode where the bulging edge is typically held at the top.
Pricing remains someone of a mystery – but we’re reliably informed it’s going to around the iPad – so £500-£600 and a release date of Septmeber is being banded about. Of course, any or all of this could change before then, or maybe the whole project gets canned. We just don’t know – but it’s a exciting prospect – a Playstation tablet.
What do you think? Has Sony got the best chance to make in impact in the year of tablet 2.0. Let us know below.
Link: Engadget