CES 2011: Tablets at CES 2011 Panasonic Viera Tablets
Panasonic announced its Android Viera Tablets at CES 2011
Although Android tablets are being launched left, right and centre at CES 2011, it was still a surprise when Panasonic announced its own Viera Tablets at its press conference.
The Viera Tablet comes in three sizes - 4-inch, 7-inch and 10-inch - ranging from smartphone-sized to iPad-sized. All three Viera Tablets run Android 2.2 and are intended to complement Panasonic's Viera LCD and plasma TVs.
In terms of the hardware, the lack of 3G precludes the inclusion of the standard Android Market for apps, but Panasonic has put its own Viera Market on its Tablets, full of Panasonic-endorsed apps.
The primary function of the Panasonic Viera Tablets is to interact with Viera TVs, via the newly launched Viera Connect IPTV service.
The Panasonic Viera Tablets that were on show were only prototypes, but we were told that they would launch in the US this year and follow in the UK sometime thereafter.
Panasonic Viera Tablet and Viera Connect
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Viera Connect
Viera Connect first and foremost lets the Viera Tablets act as remote controls for Viera TVs, letting users browse and watch apps and content on their TV screen, controlled by the Tablet.
The Viera Connect system also allows users to stream video direct from Viera TVs to the Tablets, allowing you to continue watching TV wirelessly while wandering round your home.
Although the Viera Tablets on show at CES 2011 are only early demo versions, the hardware seemed rather on the chunky side compared to the slimmer tablets around. First impressions are that these Panasonic Viera Tablets are better viewed as feature-rich Android-powered touchscreen remote controls rather than fully-fledged tablet PCs.
No word yet on when we should expect to see the Viera Tablets on sale in the UK, or how much Panasonic will be selling them for.
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