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H.P. Working on ‘Half-Pint’ Android Tablet

Hewlett Packard is currently working on numerous tablet devices that will come in a variety of sizes, shapes and operating systems, including Windows 7, Google’s Android, and possibly the open-source operating system Linux.
The company has so many different tablet-related projects in the works that a variety of upcoming publishing partners were surprised to see a Windows 7 version of the Hewlett-Packard slate announced at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show.


A senior editor of a major magazine publishing empire currently working on an internal corporate project, and speaking on the condition of anonymity due to a nondisclosure agreement, told me of an array of H.P. tablets. He said, “I’ve seen a much smaller version of H.P.’s tablet that works exclusively with Android. It’s smaller than the Windows 7 version, almost like a half-pint size, or about twice as large as the iPhone.” But this may be one of many projects currently in development. He added, “I’ve also heard mention of a Linux version in the works, but I haven’t seen the hardware for this device.”
Erick Schonfeld, a TechCrunch writer, also reported on Thursday about H.P’.s involvement in an Android slate.
The magazine company employee added that H.P. is working diligently to try to create unique content for these upcoming devices, but he cautioned that partners worry about H.P.’s understanding of the media landscape. He said, “H.P. is a great hardware company, they make excellent hardware experiences, but I worry about their ability to introduce and work with media.”
H.P. is also working with software developers including Microsoft and Adobe to create magazine content for these upcoming devices.
Marlene Somsak, an H.P. Media Relations Director, responded to questions about a possible smaller Android tablet. Mrs. Somsak said, “I’m certain that we will be announcing new Slates in the future as they are a very interesting area for us. There are also tons of HP Labs activities looking at a numerous different areas. As of now we are not announcing a new Android based slate.”
According to numerous sources at Adobe and Wired, H.P. is also talking with countless publishers including Bloomberg’s BusinessWeek, Wired, and a number of other Condé Nast publications.
Collectively, they are in the process of prototyping a new form of magazine on these slate-like devices which will include color images, a variety of typography and full-motion video.

(from internet)