Two HTC Androids for Telecom; Samsung tablets on way to Vodafone
PLUS: LG to launch Android tablet with 3D camera in New Zealand mid-July.
The ever expanding line-up of Google Android-based phones available in New Zealand is about to get a little wider.
Yesterday, Samsung's Galaxy SII was released through Vodafone for $1149 off-contract (an insider tells NBR it will shortly appear on Telecom and - more surprisingly - 2degrees as well).
Today, Telecom a launch was announced for two Androids from Taiwan's HTC: the Sensation (specs here) and the Wildfire S (specs here).
The launch event is set for June 22.
No pricing has been released yet.
Like other premium Androids released recently (Samsung's Galaxy SII and Sony's Xperia Arc), the HTC Sensation has a beefy dual core processor. It also features an aluminium "unibody" (check out PC World Australia's review here; the magazine rated the phone 4.25 stars out of 5).
TechRadar found the Wildfire S more "cheap and cheerful". Read its 3-star review here.
Collectively, Android phones have moved ahead of Apple's iPhone and the half-forgotten BlackBerry in the US.
Here, anecdotally, they'e yet to gain the same traction - but they're on the way.
LG's Optimus Pad - and Android 3 tablet with 3D camera
The local Android line-up was further bolstered today by news that LG will release its 8.9-inch Optimus Pad in New Zealand mid-July, priced at $1299. The Pad features Android 3 (aka Honeycomb) plus a video camera capable of taking 3D footage - which requires special glasses to be viewed on the tablet. It supports both 3G mobile and wi-fi connections; LG did not immediately respond to a query about which carrier, if any, would support the Pad.
The other major Android tablet contender is Samsung.
Asked why Vodafone had barely promoted its Galaxy Tab 10 and Galaxy Tab 7, a Samsung rep said the carrier had only ordered modest numbers of each. A major refresh of each tablet is close - perhaps around three months away for NZ. The new models sport a thinner design, and more powerful processors.
NBR staff
Wed, 15 Jun 2011
Wed, 15 Jun 2011
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