14 DAY TRIAL // While the Folio 100 packed all the right hardware for it to become a success it failed to get the market recognition it deserved, so Toshiba set on to develop a new Android tablet which we had the chance to take a look at during the 2011 Mobile World Congress expo.
Much like the Folio 100, the new tablet is powered by an Nvidia Tegra 2 SoC, runs the Android 2.2 operating system and features a 10.1-inch display able to push up to 1280x800 pixels.
This packs a technology called “Adaptive Display,” which constantly adjusts parameters such as brightness and contrast according to the ambient light conditions, as well as Resolution+ to enhance the quality of standard definition video content.
Connectivity is pretty well represented as Toshiba's next generation tablet will support the Wi-Fi 802.11 standard as well as 3G mobile broadband.
In addition, the slate also features full-size HDMI and USB 2.0 ports, a mini-USB port and an SD card reader.
The feature list is also completed by the addition of two cameras, a front-facing 2MP webcam and a 5MP rear snapper.
“The new tablet based on Android consequently continues Toshiba’s strategy in the European tablet market,” said Marco Perino, general manager, Digital Product Division, Toshiba Europe.
“While Folio 100 is targeted at users looking for an inexpensive tablet that offers up-to-date audio, video and Internet browsing capabilities, the new tablet, with its even more sophisticated audio and video features and its advanced hardware specifications is positioned in the high-end tablet segment,” concluded the company's rep.
Nvidia's Tegra 2 SoC is comprised of a dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 CPU and an ultra-low power GeForce GPU which can be clocked at 300MHz or 333MHz, depending on the model chosen.
The chip is capable of 1080p video decoding and is about 20% faster than the PowerVR SGX54 graphics core.
According to Toshiba, the new tablet will arrive into the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region during the first half of 2011.
Note: Fellow editors Cosmin Vasile and Alex Vochin are on the floor at the 2011 Mobile World Congress and are keeping us posted with pictures and live reports on the latest product previews and launches.
