We have been reporting for the last few months on the rumors that Motorola was developing a tablet computer, and now the latest news is that Verizon now has this device in its inventory system.
The codename for this new tablet is “Stingray,” but appears in Verizon’s inventory management system as the MZ600. Popular website Phandroid leaked the picture of the inventory you can view HERE. Rumors persist that this tablet will be intergrated into the popular “Droid” Line, so look out for a Droid Tablet very soon.
Details of the new upcoming tablet are scarce at best and all we know right now is that it’s likely to have a 10-inch touchscreen display. Motorola has also been using the 1GHz OMAP3630 processor to power their DROID X and the soon-to-be-released DROID 2 smartphones. It’s believed they might continue with a somewhat similar setup for the tablet device as well.
However, the thing that’s almost a certainty is that it’s going to be the Google’s Android 3.0 Gingerbread that would be doing the OS duty. Google has already let it be known that they are focusing on the visual end of Android to make their next release more iPad-like. Ever since the iPad started to rewrite sales records, many (particularly non-Apple-fans) were looking for a device that could clip the wings of the all-conquering iPad. Unfortuantely, none have proved to be worthy enough. Well, the tablet from Motorola may be the one. The reason why it’s being touted as a potential iPad killer is the Gingerbread version of Android, the operating system from Google that is pushed as one that has been built specially for mobile devices like tablet PCs.
The thing that makes the Gingerbread version of Android so special is the fact that it comes included with support for Adobe Flash 10.1 browser plug-in, something that will allow for a complete web browsing experience. Flash is so famously lacking in the iPad.
And lastly, the good news is that the tablet will in all probability be hitting the markets during November. We don’t have to tell you that that is the holiday season is at its prime. However, the expected release date of the Motorola tablet clashes with the likely date when Google has announced the Gingerbread will be made available, which is “early next year.” So it will be interesting to see which comes first. Or if the November release data is indeed true, this might be an indication of Google working closely with manufacturers to integrate the OS on their devices before the OS is actualy released officially. In any case, it will be exciting to see the outcome of all this.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
