At long last, Sony has thrown its hat into the tablet ring, announcing two models on Tuesday code-named S1 and S2. The S1 is aimed at media consumption, while the dual-screen S2 is suited for communication (but can still play media).
Both tablets will feature responsive touch screens, Android 3.0, Wi-Fi, WAN (3G/4G), and a variety of Internet services. A "swift" Web browser promises faster loading times for Web sites on slower wireless connections (most likely borrowed technology from Opera, which has collaborated with Sony's Web browsers before). They will also be fully compatible with Adobe Flash (like other Honeycomb tablets).
The devices will become available worldwide starting in the fall.
The Sony Tablet S1 has a 9.4-inch (1,280x800) display and is reminiscent of a folded magazine. Sony says the eccentric design shifts the center of gravity to one side, giving it a lighter feel and making it more comfortable during extended use.
While the S1 runs Android 3.0, there's little doubt Sony will offer customized plug-ins for the operating system. Here, we can clearly see a "Favorites" area that aggregates several social feeds, such as Facebook and Twitter, into a magazine-style layout. To the right, there is easy access to recently added/bookmarked music, books, games, movies, pictures, and so on.
There's also a front-facing camera for video calls, presumably through Skype (which is already available on several 2011 Sony products). It's also compatible with PlayStation Suite, a newly launched service that allows consumers to play PlayStation 1 games.
The S1 sports an unorthodox design. Several buttons are visible in this image, including power, volume, and reset. There's also a spot for a storage card.
In this side view of the Sony Tablet S1, it nearly looks like a closed notebook. You can also see one of the nubs at the bottom that elevates the tablet on a flat surface.
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