14 DAY TRIAL // With all the attention that PC makers gave notebooks, netbooks and desktops over the past month, the tablet market as odd as it may seem, didn't exactly get much in the way of new members. Granted, most slates have already been showcased by now and the rest that have yet to appear are those scheduled for the back-to-school period. And yet, there are still some tablets that will make it to market sooner, and the Smartpad seems to be one of them.
Smartpad is the name that a certain tablet, set to be subsidized by 1&1, bears. Essentially, it is a slate-type mobile device that, like so many of its peers, is pre-loaded with Google's Android operating system. The product will supposedly be offered as a bonus for 1&1 DSL subscribers that purchase the broadband package, as well as a purchasable product for existing subscribers.
Unfortunately, the company has not exactly been forthcoming with the details on the slate, whether hardware-related or otherwise. Among the few details known are the ability to use a USB 3G modem, the presence of WiFi b/g/n and, of course, touch input. There is also a SD card reader, with a 2GB card included in the offer, as well as an USB Host port. As for the hardware specifications themselves, they have been kept under wraps for now. Basically, there is no way of knowing what processor lies at the heart of this creature, nor is there anything to indicate how much memory or storage is available.
The Smartpad will make it to market sometime during July and will be pre-configured with a variety of Android apps. Among them will be an e-book reading software, weather widgets and a digital photo frame viewer. End-users will have to wait for future updates from the company before learning which version of the Android OS will actually be featured.