Sony announces new Android tablets

Sony has announced two new tablets
Japanese electronics giant Sony has become the latest company hoping to eat into Apple’s dominance of the tablet market.

The Vaio to TV to Walkman manufacturer has announced two tablets running Google’s Android operating system, each being positioned for different uses.

Sony says the 9.4″ screened S1 “is optimized for rich media entertainment” while the smaller clamshell S2 has two 5.5-inch displays which allows the displays “to be combined and used as a large screen or for different functions such as playing video on one screen while showing control buttons on the other.”

Both devices offer WiFi and 3G/4G connectivity and will ship with Android 3.0. Unlike the RIM’s PlayBook both will include native email apps and will support digital content accessed through Sony’s “premium network services” including the unwieldily named Qriocity.

Just as iPad and iPhone users can operate their Apple TV set-top-box via a downloadable app, so Sony tablet users will be able to adjust the volume and change channels on Bravia TV sets.

The electronics giant is also promising that Tablet users will be able to “throw” personal content to large screen televisions or music to wireless speakers.

eBook fans will be able to download Sony’s Reader app and read their existing catalogue of books on the devices.

“Sony Tablet delivers an entertainment experience where users can enjoy cloud-based services on-the-go at any time. We’re aiming to create a new lifestyle by integrating consumer hardware, including ‘Sony Tablet’ with content and network,” said Kunimasa Suzuki, Corporate Executive, SVP, and Deputy President of Consumer Products & Services Group.

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