ViewSonic Unveils Android Tablets

ViewSonic ViewPad 7

Consumer electronics maker ViewSonic has unveiled two Android-powered wireless tablet devices for access to social media and entertainment apps.

The ViewPad 10 is a 10.1-inch Windows 7 Home Premium and Android 1.6 dual-boot device. It has a high-speed Intel Atom 1.66GHz processor, integrated 1GB of memory, a 1.6GB SSD hard drive, and expandable micro SD slot. The ViewPad 10 is designed for viewing Flash-based content and Windows Office programs, ViewSonic said.

The device also has a 1024 x 600 LED backlit panel with a G-sensor and capacitive multi-touch to navigate across multiple apps. It also features a 1.3-megapixel webcam with a built-in microphone for videoconferencing. It will be available in the first quarter of 2011 for a suggested retail price of $629.

The more compact ViewPad 7 comes with the Android 2.2 OS in a lightweight, pocket-sized 7-inch form factor. It is one of the only 7-inch tablet devices with Android Google Mobile Services (GMS) and is capable of handling 3.5G of data, according to ViewSonic. It comes with an 800 x 480 WVGA LCD capacitive screen for viewing more than 100,000 apps and games, and provides access to Gmail, YouTube, and social networking apps.

The device provides instant messaging, VoIP, web browsing, and USB with its wireless 802.11 b/g and Bluetooth connectivity features. It also comes with two cameras -- a 3-megapixel autofocus camera in the rear, and a 0.3-megapixel camera in front. The ViewPad 7 offers up to 32GB of additional storage capacity via a micro SD card slot, in addition to the internal 32GB of storage. It has a battery life of up to 10 hours.

The ViewPad 7 will be available by the end of the year with a suggested retail price of $479. At product launch, third-party accessories and ViewCare extended warranties will be available for both devices.

"Leveraging our 20-year display heritage, these new ViewPad solutions provide users with anytime anywhere connectivity," said Jeff Volpe, VP and general manager for ViewSonic Americas, in a statement. "With access to the universe of Android apps, our new ViewPads are perfectly suited for enjoying digital entertainment and social media. Office productivity is also a snap with robust web browsing functionality."

In addition to consumer electronics, Walnut, Calif.-based ViewSonic also provides computing and communications technologies.