Looks like Sony will have plenty to talk about at Berlin’s big IFA electronics show in a couple of weeks. I’ve been invited to spend some quality hands-on time with a range of gear in Sydney, including: new Sony Readers and “digital imaging equipment” — could that mean new video cameras, or those leaked Alpha cameras? But what’s really got me curious is Sony’s self-described “highlight” of a “whole new product category.” Take this with a liberal helping of salt (because Sony certainly wouldn’t confirm it), but I smell tablets.
So I’m just taking a wild guess here. But fingers crossed it could be the 9.4-inch S1 and dual 5.5-inch screen S2. We’ve seen them fondled on video, and Gizmodo US has spent some time with them, too.
Both tablets run Android Honeycomb with a custom Sony UI, and have a Tegra 2 processor, Wi-Fi, 3G support, and included Sony Qriocity and PlayStation suite pre-loaded. Sony has said it wants to be the number 2 tablet maker by 2012 — do you think these bad boys will give them a shot?
Meanwhile, that leaked spring camera line up from Sony possibly includes the big A77, NEX-7, A65 and a whole supporting cast. Again, not even close to being confirmed to arrive here, but we can hope. I’ll let you know on the first of September.
Muhammad
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 3:50 PMApple will sue them, and block them.
me2
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 3:51 PMApple injuction pending…
Joey
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 5:34 PM+1
BenDTU
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 4:09 PMSony releasing something in a timely fashion? Surely you jest.
poltak
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 6:44 PMYeah, waiting for Apple…
But really, that dual-screen S2 looks horrible to use (and looks in general)… At least it’s something different from the horde of Honeycomb tablets out now (as much as I’m loving Honeycomb tablets).
Stephen
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 7:56 PMWon’t get released sorry – Apple’s iPad has injuntivitis.
Ruen
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 9:02 PMHave to agree with everyone else here in saying SOny will have to make it past Apple’s crack team of lawyers before we see those tablet anywhere.
Everyone should know by now that the concept of a thin black rectangle belongs to Apple
Bre
Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 11:02 AMBecause you know, these tablets are so similar to Apple’s and all…
These tablets look amazing and I can just imagine how good they feel to hold!
I wasn’t going to get another tablet until i’ve had mine for 2 years, but this might tip me over the edge!
Steve
Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 5:47 PMApple doesn’t even care if it looks similar to iPad now. They recently sued Motorola over the Xoom (which just about everyone would agree looks NOTHING like an iPad 2).
Matt
Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 11:10 AMHas anyone notified Apples lawyers. One of those looks like a screen you can touch…..
Daniel
Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 2:34 PMI got invited to this as well (on the not as special non media one on the 2nd though) and am so pumped. First thing I thought as well when I saw the whole new product category line is the tablets, really hoping they have them there.
My invite didn’t have the line about Sony Computer Entertainment and others being there as well. Im going to be devastated if the Vita is there on the 1st and not the 2nd.
Ollie
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 8:22 PMSony have failed due to their lack of transparency. They have held the hype for too long. Last month I would have bought the S1 no matter what, but now I am looking at how much it will cost. If it is too much then I will have no worries going to the Galaxy. Sony need to swallow a bit of pride and be economically reasonable, especially after taking to long to release the tablets.