LG Optimus Tablet PC Announced: Will Feature Android OS

After Apple released its iPad this year, every other computer and mobile device maker joined the cause to develop its own version. From the HP Slate that never was to the iLet Hal that "could be," tablets are everywhere. Now, LG, with the help of Google's Android operating system, appears to have joined the same bandwagon with the company's own tablet. Will the device make the cut, or is it another tablet PCs to avoid? The ultimate question is will it out-perform the iPad?

Better Late then Never

LG made the claim that their soon-to-be Android based tablet PC will "blow the iPad away." With hundreds of appliances, smartphones and other consumer goods under the company's belt, LG Electric is hoping their late start to the tablet PC game is not one that will go unnoticed or be an unfruitful one.

While no specifications were released as of the time of this writing, the South Korean manufacturer's Vice President Chang Ma stated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that their tablet PC would use the Android operating system and offer many "high-end" benefits and features to users that the Apple iPad does not. For example, according to claims made by Mr. Ma, the LG tablet PC-to-be will not only allow for better productivity then the iPad, but it will also offer writing and video editing thus allowing the user to create content, instead of just consume it as the iPad does.

Why Use Android?

This move into tablet PC land using Android comes in direct relation to LG's initiative to re-launch the Optimus One smartphone to 120 vendors in September of 2010 and release a total of at least 10 smartphones by the end of 2010. All of the devices will boast one of the Android operating system flavors. To LG's credit in choice if operating system, Android sold over 7.7 million handsets in the year 2009, according to a report by Android and Me.

Additionally, Android's market share is steadily climbing to new heights and even outscored iPhone OS for a quarter. As of August 2 2010, according to a report by Neilson, Android has a total Q2 market share of just 13 percent. However, Android also claims 27 percent of all smartphone subscribers within the last six months. This figure bypasses Apple's iPhone OS subscribers for the same Q2 period, of which they claim a total of 28 percent, but only 23 percent of new subscribers within the same six-month period.

Better than the Apple iPad?

While Mr. Ma's claims certainly turned heads, it is difficult for him or LG to make such a claim considering a prototype has not been released yet. With no way to test features or performance, Mr. Ma may be putting a lot of stock into a device that might not live up to expectations when it is finally released. If the device performs as Mr. Ma claims it will, then it will certainly be a better tablet PC all around. Tech based websites are all speculating that the tablet will support Flash, tethering, sport an LCD screen along with other wanted items, but there is no telling what it will contain until it is "officially" announced with a prototype in hand.

For instance, everyone was hyped about the "great innovation on Earth," of which was supposed to be the iPad; however, when it was finally released, many wondered what people were spending their hard earned $500 on. Since it was missing much more than it offered and is very limited in its functionality, it was not the hard-hitting gadget of the century that Apple claimed it to be. Yes, the iPad has sold millions of devices to date, but they are devices with little support for real world content creation and productivity.

It has yet to be seen if the LG Tablet PC-to-be will change the tablet game with their up and coming device; it may or may not. Finally having one in your hand will be deciding factor and that is what LG hopes will happen with the upcoming LG Optimus Tablet PC by the fourth quarter of 2010.

References:

Roger Cheng & Jung-Ah Lee, "LG Readies Tablet, Optimus Smartphones," Wall Street Journal Online

Matt Burns "LG to the WSJ, "Our tablet will be better than the iPad," CrunchGear

The Neilson Company, "Android Soars, but iPhone Still Most Desired as Smartphones Grab 25% of U.S. Mobile Market," NeilsonWire

Ian Wheat, "7.7 million Android Handsets Sold in 2009," Android and Me