$199 Freescale Tablet PC for Everyone - Not From Apple

After the rumours of Apple tablet PC, Freescale Semiconductor has releases a reference designs of an affordable, lightweight tablet computer, which is set to hit the market later this year.

The Freescale tablet reference design (pictured above) has specifications close to what we have been hearing about the mythical Apple tablet: a 7-inch touch screen, 3-megapixel camera and various sensors such as a 3-axis accelerometer and an ambient light sensor.

Next to the 512MB of RAM, up to 64GB of internal storage (microSD expansion) and a 1GHz processor, Freescale's smartbook tablet features a potentially killer spec: a $200 price-tag. Next to an Android or Linux operating system, it also includes WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and options for a 3G modem.

The smartbook reference design is intended to run everyday-use applications such as a Web browser (with Adobe Flash support), an email client, an RSS reader, social networking tools and an office suite among others.

So far, no one has had a chance to have a deeper look at Freescale's holy grail smartbook, but the chipmaker is planning to demonstrate the design at the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in the beginning of January.

If manufacturers pick up on Freescale's concept, such smartbooks should show up in a store near you perhaps later on this summer, with a price point below the $200 ceiling, the chipmaker says. However, no potential vendors for this tablet design have been named.

Here are the full specs of the Freescale smartbook:

• Size: 200mm x 128mm x 14.9cm and weighing 376 grams; no need for fan or heat sink

• Processor: Freescale i.MX515 applications processor provides high performance and low power

- ARM Cortex-A8 1GHz

- OpenVG & OpenGL/ES graphics cores

- HD video decoder hardware

• Memory: 512 MB DDR2

• Display: 7-inch (1024 x 600) touch screen

• Storage: 4-64 GB internal storage; removable micro SD

• Connectivity: 3G modem (option) 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, RF4CE (option)

• Ports: USB 2.0 and USB mini (also for charging), audio in/audio out, SIM card

• Audio: speaker, microphone

• Camera: 3 Mpixel (video recording up to VGA @ 30fps)

• Battery: 1900mAh, USB charging

• Sensors: the MMA8450Q 3-axis accelerometer and an ambient light sensor

• Power management IC

And while we are in tablet land, January should see another tablet design unveiled, as Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce its tablet on January 26th.

New Tech 2010 Rumor: "Apple Tablet"

Apple officials have been very successful about keeping their silence about the rumors that a tablet is coming very soon from the company. In the last few days, we have seen a number of rumors about it. 10-inch slate device, keyboard-less, targeted for Internet browsing- so you see that there is a lot of speculations about the features. Until now, Apple officials have kept their solemn silence. That is why, people have become more curious about this product. What will be the name : iSlate, iGuide, iScreen or iPad or anything else? I expect its name to be iWeb as it will be mainly targeted for Internet browsing.

I think that it will come sooner or later in the market. Well, if Apple is really going to introduce it then they should have announced in CES Show 2010, Consumer Electronic Show, that is going to take place after one week. CES 2010 will be held in 7-10th January 2010. It is a very good show to get all the media attention. More than 100 K visitors are expected to turn off for the event.

Tablets are there for sometime in the market. However, they could not still get the huge reception like other gadgets. May be, Apple can do something now.

Businessweek.com wrote that the rumor has been confirmed: "A source familiar with Apple’s product plans says that the company plans to introduce a tablet-based device in early 2010. This is consistent with the report from Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster this morning suggesting precisely the same thing." Read full story here.