Dell is inching closer to the release of its first tablet, the Mini 5 aka 'Streak'. The device will debut on AT&T in "late summer," company CEO Michael Dell said at a conference.
And for once, Europe will get a gadget ahead of the U.S., as the Streak will launch on O2 Telefonica.
The Sony PlayStation Portable-sized Streak isn't directly an iPad competitor. The Streak has a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera on the back, a separate front-facing camera that can be used for video conferencing, a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1-GHz processor.
It will run the latest version of Google’s Android operating system, version 2.0 or higher. But instead of just processing data, Dell hopes to offer a SIM card option so users can make phone calls through the device. Dell hasn't commented on pricing for the device.
At this point, Dell's tablet seems the first real shot against the Apple's iPad. Dell rival HP's efforts with its 'Slate' tablet has been mired in uncertainty since the company's acquisition of smartphone maker Palm. Reports suggest that HP may re-work its tablet to run Palm webOS operating system, instead of Windows 7. HP has declined to comment on what it calls as "rumor and speculation."
See Also:
- Dell's Tablet Aims to Stick It to Apple's iPad
- Why 2010 Will Be the Year of the Tablet
- Gallery: 8 Tablets That Aren't Made by Apple
- HP Offers Another Peek at its Tablet, Specs Leaked?
- HP Slate Could Get a Makeover With Palm's WebOS
Photo: Dell Mini 5 (ndevil/Flickr)
