Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/06/motorola_xoom/
Motorola uncloaks 10.1-inch Xoom fondleslab
iPad challenger runs Android 3.0
Posted in Tablets, 6th January 2011 18:31 GMT
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CES 2011 Motorola has announced a new 10.1-inch tablet, the Xoom, hoping to take on Apple's überpopular iPad and a host of fondleslab wannabes.
The Xoom will appear in the first quarter of 2011 running Google's tablet-centric Android 3.0 operating system, aka "Honeycomb [1]."
"Motorola XOOM gives consumers complete access and control of their favorite personal content and work files whether through our nationwide 3G network, or through our lightning-fast 4G LTE network as it rolls out around the country," read a canned statement from Verizon Wireless' chief marketing officer Marni Walden. Verizon joined Motorola in unveiling [2] the Xoom at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Motorola took Steve Jobs "seven inches isn't enough [3]" mantra to heart with its capacious 10.1-inch Xoom
The Xoom comes packed with a variety of goodness, starting with its dual-core 1GHz processor supported by 1GB of RAM. Also included are the now de riguer dual cameras: a front-front facing two-megapixel number for video calling and conferencing, and a five-megapixel rear-facing unit with an LED flash and digital xoom zoom that captures video in 720p HD.
Video playback on the Xoom itself will be at 780p on its 1280-by-800 display, and the device will be capable of outputting 1080p HD video through its HDMI port. And, yes, it will be capable of playing Adobe Flash–based content.
Accessories include a speaker dock with USB and HDMI ports (shown), plus a keyoard and stand
As is becoming expected in tablets and handsets, the Xoom includes a raft of built-in sensors: a gyroscope, e-compass (magnetometer), accelerometer, and adaptive lighting, and – for possible purposes (navigation?) not yet exploited – a barometer.
When The Reg spoke Wednesday with the president and CEO of MEMS-sensor maker Kionix, Greg Galvin, he told us that tablet and handset makers were coming to him for requests for the full range of sensors, even if they didn't have a firm idea as to what application developers would do with them.
The Xoom has one feature, however, that users will be able to take advantage of immediately: a mobile hotspot capability that will support up to five other Wi-Fi–equipped devices.
Although the Xoom will launch this quarter as a 3G and Wi-Fi device, it will be upgradeable to Verizon's 4G LTE service in the second quarter, and it will ship as a 4G device after that. Motorola gave no details as to exactly how the 4G upgrade would be accomplished. ®