Sony Tablet

Sony's Vaio division had released tablet-like products before, such as the Sony Vaio U series in 2004.{{cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2004-05-10-sonys-wireless-tablet-pc.html | title=Sony's wireless tablet PC | date=8 August 2019 }} Its first tablet computer however was the Airboard, which was released in Japan in 2000 and the brainchild of Satoru Maeda.{{Cite web |date=2001-10-03 |title=Sony previews new Airboard tablet PC |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2001/TECH/ptech/10/03/airboard.tablet.pc.idg/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=CNN}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/02/business/business-sony-again-turns-to-design-to-lift-electronics.html | title=Business; Sony Again Turns to Design to Lift Electronics | work=The New York Times | date=2 February 2003 | last1=Belson | first1=Ken }}

On April 26, 2011, Sony announced that it would be developing two Android tablets, codenamed S1 and S2. The S1 (which became the Tablet S) was said to be "optimized for rich media entertainment" while the S2 (later Tablet P) would be "ideal for mobile communication and entertainment".{{cite web |url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201104/11-055E/ |title=Sony Announces Optimally Designed "Sony Tablet" with Android 3.0 that Complements Network Services for an Immersive Entertainment Experience |publisher=sony.net |access-date=3 Dec 2011}}

On 15 June 2011, Sony released the first in a series of five videos titled "Two Will", promoting and featuring the Tablets in an elaborately designed Rube Goldberg Machine.{{cite web|url=http://www.sony.net/Products/tablet/special/twowill/ |title="Two Will" Story of two will and the two will be |publisher=sony.net |access-date=3 Dec 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717215944/http://www.sony.net/Products/tablet/special/twowill/ |archive-date=July 17, 2014 }} The episodes are entitled:

• Prologue
• The First Impression
• Going smoothly
• Filled with fun
• Together anywhere

File:Tokyo IMG 0917 (6225252086).jpg

The models originally ran Google's operating system Android 3.1 Honeycomb.{{cite web |title=Sony Tablets |url=http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&identifier=S_tablet_landing |access-date=2011-09-20 |work=Sony Store USA |publisher=Sony Electronics Inc}} The first models were informally announced on 26 April 2011, using the code names, by Sony in the Sony IT Mobile Meeting.{{cite web |last1=Ricker |first1=Thomas |date=26 April 2011 |title=Sony S1 and S2 dual-screen Honeycomb tablets get official (video) |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/sony-to-launch-two-honeycomb-tablets/ |work=Engadget |publisher=AOL Inc}}{{Cite press release |title=Sony Announces Optimally Designed 'Sony Tablet' with Android 3.2 that Complements Network Services for an Immersive Entertainment Experience also Strengthening Vaio in Expanding PC Markets |publisher=Sony Electronics Inc |date=26 April 2011 |url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201104/11-055E/ |access-date=2015-02-10}} They featured touchscreens, two cameras (a rear-facing 5 MP, a front-facing 0.3 MP), infrared sensor, Wi-Fi. Also, they support PlayStation Suite, DLNA, and are 3G/4G compatible. The retail price in the U.S at the time of release was US$499–599.{{cite web |date=31 August 2011 |title=Sony Tablet S: starting at $499.99, arriving September |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/08/sony-tablet-s-500-arriving-in-september.html |work=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite web |last=Liang |first=Siang |date=27 April 2011 |title=Sony unleashes new Android S1 and S2 tablets |url=http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-unleashes-new-android-s1-and-s2-tablets/11978.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430141452/http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-unleashes-new-android-s1-and-s2-tablets/11978.html |archive-date=30 April 2011 |access-date=16 May 2011 |work=VR-Zone |publisher=VR Media Pte. Ltd}} In Europe, prices were at €499. To increase the number of apps available and provide marketing support for both tablets, Sony and Adobe Systems will hold a $200,000 competition targeting app developers.{{cite web |last1=Millian |first1=Mark |date=18 July 2011 |title=Team Android Tablet adds players |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/07/18/android.tablets/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722152712/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/07/18/android.tablets/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |work=CNNTech |publisher=Cable News Network}} The series was formally launched in Berlin and Tokyo on 31 August 2011.{{cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Isabel |date=1 September 2011 |title=Sony tablets face tough sell on price, hardware |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sony-idUSTRE77U19U20110901 |work=Reuters}}

The Sony Tablet S (former code name Sony S1) has one {{convert|9.4|in|mm|adj=on}} touchscreen display in a slate layout, and a unique wrap design inspired by the way some persons fold magazines while reading them. In landscape orientation, the unit along the top is about three times thicker than along the bottom, forming a mild slant.{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/sony-tablet-s-preview/ |title=Sony Tablet S preview |first=Tim |last=Stevens |date=31 August 2011 |work=Engadget |publisher=AOL Inc}}{{cite web |url=http://trendytablets.com/2011/06/08/sony-s1-review/ |title=Sony S1 Review |first=Chris |last=Stewart |date=8 June 2011 |work=TrendyTablets}} It was released on 11 September 2011, as the first available member of the Sony Tablet series.{{cite web |url=http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Sony-Tablet-S_id5450 |title=Sony Tablet S |date=1 September 2011 |work=phoneArena.com}} The suggested retail prices are $499 for the 16 GB model and $599 for the 32 GB model. In early reviews in late 2011, the units compared favorably to similar high-end tablets.{{cite web|url=http://topbestphonereviews.info/category/tablets/sony |title=Sony |author=Zamahsari |work=Best Phone Reviews & News |access-date=16 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611073417/http://topbestphonereviews.info/category/tablets/sony |archive-date=June 11, 2011 }}

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• Comparison of tablet computers
• Sony Xperia
• iPad

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Sony tablet}}

{{Sony Corp}}

{{Android tablets}}

Category:Android (operating system) devices

Category:Products introduced in 2011