Huawei today unveiled its 7-inch MediaPad, which the company says will be the first to use the previously unannounced Android 3.2 Honeycomb OS (specifically optimized for 7-inch tablets) and the first to use Qualcomm's 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor. All the specs look to be on the mark but no pricing was announced. The release date is slated for Q3, 2011, so that could be any time between the end of next week and September 31.
I must admit to watching the release of iPad competitors with a the same fascination I have only once experienced before, while watching soldiers waiting to go into battle - I admire their bravery and commitment, but fear for the worst. Motorola, Samsung, HTC, RIM and LG have already proven that having equal or better specifications than the iPad won't steal many sales - the total buying experience and the longevity of the line, and the comforting knowledge that Apple will produce an iPad 3, and an iOS5 and 6 and 7, all weigh heavily in the mind of the consumer. As in love and war, the incumbent usually wins.
The MediaPad does look a treat though, as plays full 1080P video, has a very high pixel density (217 PPI compared to the Apple iPad2's 132 PPI) and has no shortage of processing power considering the powerhouse dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor.
In terms of creating media, it sports a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera for video calling and 5 megapixel, auto-focus, rear-facing camera with HD video recording capabilities.
It's thin (10.5 mm = 0.4 inches) and light (390 grams = 0.86 pounds) and will be supported by Huawei's Hi-Space cloud solution and Google Android market.
With HSPA+ 14.4Mbps and high-speed WiFi 802.11n connectivity, the MediaPad will not be available in wWiFi-only form.
The MediaPad supports HSPA+ data services, Flash 10.3 videos and comes pre-installed with applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Let's Golf and Documents to Go.
