Chatting to people around IFA today we’re all agreeing that the Viewsonic Viewpad is another ‘complete’ Android Tablet product. Apart from the latest Ghz-class CPU, and lets not forget that a 600Mhz Cortex A8-class CPU isn’t actually that bad, it has everything needed for the full Android experience. From camera to 3G. From GPS to Market. From capacative touch to good build quality. You can even use this for voice calls.

The price is 399 Euro (maximum) which we think is very competitive indeed.

In the video below we go over the device and run a few tests, including the voice call!

Correction: IN the video I talked about a 1024×600 screen. We’re checking this. At the moment the general opinion is that it’s an 800×480 screen. That does make some difference for web browsing it will be difficult to detect any downside when using it in apps that are all designed for smaller resolutions anyway.

Chatting to people around IFA today we’re all agreeing that the Viewsonic Viewpad is another ‘complete’ Android Tablet product. Apart from the latest Ghz-class CPU, and lets not forget that a 600Mhz Cortex A8-class CPU isn’t actually that bad, it has everything needed for the full Android experience. From camera to 3G. From GPS to Market. From capacative touch to good build quality. You can even use this for voice calls.

The price is 399 Euro (maximum) which we think is very competitive indeed.

In the video below we go over the device and run a few tests, including the voice call!

Correction: IN the video I talked about a 1024×600 screen. We’re checking this. At the moment the general opinion is that it’s an 800×480 screen. That does make some difference for web browsing it will be difficult to detect any downside when using it in apps that are all designed for smaller resolutions anyway.

We’ve got a few videos coming up on the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 but first, here’s the pics and a few thoughts (I need to hit decent internet connection before I upload the videos – they’ll come later.)

In summary, the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 is delivering most of what the Galaxy Tab is delivering, for an excellent price. You haven’t quite got the build quality (it’s good though) and you’ve got a known brand, Android 2.2, capacitive touch (good screen quality), 3G, voice and the Google apps. The only thing you might notice is the user interface. It’s not as swift as the Galaxy Tab and that’s clearly because the CPU is a Snapdragon at 600Mhz and not the high-end A8 Cortex device of the Samsung. It’s not bad though and in my tests over 3G I was happy.

The price, BTW is a decent 399 Euro (350 UK pounds) and it’s coming soon. (Within the next few months)

Full gallery available here.

Watch out for more later. I’ve got two videos of the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 and I’ll also be checking  out the Viewpad 10, an X86 device.

We’ve got a few videos coming up on the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 but first, here’s the pics and a few thoughts (I need to hit decent internet connection before I upload the videos they’ll come later.)

In summary, the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 is delivering most of what the Galaxy Tab is delivering, for an excellent price. You haven’t quite got the build quality (it’s good though) and you’ve got a known brand, Android 2.2, capacitive touch (good screen quality), 3G, voice and the Google apps. The only thing you might notice is the user interface. It’s not as swift as the Galaxy Tab and that’s clearly because the CPU is a Snapdragon at 600Mhz and not the high-end A8 Cortex device of the Samsung. It’s not bad though and in my tests over 3G I was happy.

The price, BTW is a decent 399 Euro (350 UK pounds) and it’s coming soon. (Within the next few months)

Full gallery available here.

Watch out for more later. I’ve got two videos of the Viewsonic Viewpad 7 and I’ll also be checking  out the Viewpad 10, an X86 device.

We didn’t get a huge chance for hands-on as we stumbled across the Toshiba press event at IFA today and with the device locked to the wall, without and sort of Internet connection and without any supporting technical staff, it was difficult to do a good test on the Toshiba Folio 100. We want to go back and ask about pricing, Google apps and Android 2.2 availability for the keyboarded version that we’re doing extended testing on, the AC100. I’ve published a video on YouTube (below) that might give you a few snippets of information about the Folio but we’ll be back over the next few days with more information. We promise!

Click through for larger images.

We didn’t get a huge chance for hands-on as we stumbled across the Toshiba press event at IFA today and with the device locked to the wall, without and sort of Internet connection and without any supporting technical staff, it was difficult to do a good test on the Toshiba Folio 100. We want to go back and ask about pricing, Google apps and Android 2.2 availability for the keyboarded version that we’re doing extended testing on, the AC100. I’ve published a video on YouTube (below) that might give you a few snippets of information about the Folio but we’ll be back over the next few days with more information. We promise!

Click through for larger images.

Update: Product page now available.

Update: We got hands-on at IFA.

httpsh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ZcEgT83yc

We won’t spend too much time reminding you of the Camangi Webstation. Despite a nice look, it was a rather weak entry into the tablet market. The Camangi Market launched at the same time and promised to offer tablet-focused apps. With just 80 apps (that I can find) its no wonder that the new Camangi product will have Google applications and the all-important Market.

The Sheng Tung Development Co., Ltd. are a supplier of Tawanese good and partner to Camangi are at IFA this week. They’ve posted information about the new, FM600 model on the IFA website. I’ve highlighted the important features.

We’ll be heading to their booth as soon as we can. (Probably on Friday)

Android 2.2 with 7 inch Mobile Internet Device ( MID ) / Tablet / Mobile Phone.
The worldwide first release 7 inch Android 2.2 system.
Capacitive touch screen with best multimedia experience.
Latest Google service and full internet function. Support Android Market, Youtube online watch, Fring, Facebook, Skype, Twitter….social network platform. Google Map & Navigation in 7 inch screen enlarge the view.
QR code access convenient the life. Dual cameras are for webcam and camcorder to take photo & video.
Support SIM card 2G/3G signal, it just become a smartphone with large screen when SIM card slot in.
Dimensions: 179.4 x 110 x 11.05/11.25 mm
Weight: Approx. 410 g
Display : 7 inch WVGA (800×480) capacitive single-touch screen
Chipset : Qualcomm MSM7227 600 MHz (Snapdragon)
O.S. : Android 2.2
Internal Memory: 512MB RAM/512MB ROM, Memory Card support up to 32GB
Connectivity: WLAN 802.11 b/g , Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, 3G SIM card slot
GSM Quad-band 850/900/1800/2100, UMTS (WCDMA) 900/1900/2100, GPRS Class 12 , GPS/AGPS
Interface: mini-USB (USB 2.0); 3.5mm audio jack
Camera: Main camera: 3 M Auto Focus, second camera: 300K VGA
Battery: 3240 mAh Li-Polymer battery, support PC USB charging
Less than 3 hours charging with 5V/2A AC adaptor (power-off mode)
Battery Life: Standby: up to 25 days
Talk time: up to 26 hours (GSM) / 9 hours (WCDMA)
Video playback & internet browsing: up to 5 hours
Others : G-sensor, E-compass, Vibration, microSD (TF) slot/SDHC
Video formats support: 3GP, MP4, AVI
Default: Calendar, Clock, Calculator, Browser, Camera, Cam Coder, Music, Gallery, eMail, Phone, Contact, Messaging
Pre-installed Application: Aldiko, Document-to-Go, File Browser, Note Pad, eReader
Google Applications: Android Market, Google Maps, Google Mail, Google Talk, YouTube, Navigation and more.

Via IFA Website.

Update: There’s a Camangi II too. It’s running a Samsung Cortex A8 CPU and a 5mp cam.

Update2: We were told at IFA that this product won’t have the Google Market and aplications. I think we’ll have to wait and see though because details are very unclear right now.

It’s under 24hrs to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, a 7 inch Android Tablet that’s getting a huge piece of the pre-IFA coverage and one that went straight to number 1 on our popularity charts. It’s not Samsungs first 7 inch tablet though. It’s actually their 7th. Yes, they’ve been in the 7 inch tablet business for over 4 years now and know a thing or two about tablet design. Their engineering skills are proven and they have access to some amazing electronic components. Screens, CPUs and storage that no other ODM has.

View all Samsung 7 inch tablets side-by-side.

Lets take a quick look at the history and then you can use the ‘Chooser’ to find out which one matches your requirements.

It was Feb 2006 when Samsung joined TabletKiosk, Amtek, ASUS and others to launch the first handheld tablets based on the Origami concept. They used low power laptop components coupled with CCFL-backlit screens and early 1.8 inch hard drives. The operating system was Windows XP Tablet Edition and you were looking at about 2.5hrs battery life for over $1000.

A VIA version appeared at IFA in the same year and introduced 3G and LED-backlighting to save power. The Q1b was a good product and the one I chose for my Solar-ultra mobile PC tour in 2007.

After Intel re-designed their Pentium to make a ‘Stealey’ CPU aimed at ultra mobile PCs, Samsung redesigned the ultra mobile PC to include a split keyboard, 1024×600 high-brightness screen, 4hr battery life, SSD and 3G options. There was even an Intel Core model, the ‘premium‘ which even today can still blow the socks off most UMPCs.

After that, Samsung took a break. They teased about new designs but in the end, the only thing they came up with was a VIA Nano-based device, the Q1EX that was good but not that different from the Ultra.

Tomorrow, we’ll see the next generation of Samsung’s 7 inch tablets. It will be running an ARM-licensed core architecture (Samsung’s own Hummingbird) and Android version 2.2. It’s a complete departure in terms of platform and will angle towards a consumer crowd. We expect great battery life, a very high quality screen and light-weight but we don’t expect a full internet experience. Flash may be included but it won’t be that smooth. The web browser will also have limitations. For the target market those problems won’t be an issue though and like most others, we’re excited to be getting a look at it tomorrow at IFA.

So which one is for you? I been through the main models and rated against various categories. All you have to do is choose your requirements and see what the winner is! Let us know if you get a surprise!

Product Chooser: Choose between a Galaxy Tab, a Q1 Ultra Premium, a Q1 and a Q1EX