Sony is expected to launch its first two Android tablets later this year. The company has already confirmed that the Sony S1 and S2 will feature Playstation Suite software for playing Playstation titles, as well as access to the Qriocity media store. But it turns out there are a few other things setting Sony’s tablet software apart from the crowd.

According to some screenshots of the new tablets Carrypad spotted on Sony’s support site, here’s what we know so far:

  • The tablets will ship with the Google Android 3.2 operating system.

  • There appears to be a custom keyboard app with a numeric keypad on the right — something I haven’t seen on any other Android tablet.
  • Sony has a custom music player that’s optimized for Honeycomb tablets and which features “SenseMe” channels that let you listen to music based on moods.
  • There’s a WiFi-connection wizard which offers more advanced features than you’ll find on most Android tablets.
The Apps menu also shows a few applications we haven’t seen before including a Chumby app. There are also custom icons for camera, calendar, contacts, gallery, and other apps, which suggests that Sony may have tweaked these applications.

The Sony S1 tablet features a 9.4 inch display and a wedge-shaped design, while the S2 is a dual-screen tablet with two 5.5 inch, 1024 x 480 pixel displays that you can fold up and fit in your pocket.

AT&T is expected to offer the tablet later this year in the US. I haven’t seen a US launch date for the S1 tablet yet soon.

Update: Unsurprisingly, Sony has pulled the support page where these images were found.

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3 replies on “Sneak peek at Sony’s new tablet software”

  1. It’s interesting that it has a ‘personal space’ icon with images of a camera and usb-stick (I think).
    It also has a ‘file transfer’ app.
    These are very good signs in addition to the usb icon on the side port cover.
    I am very much against the apple idea of not revealing the file system.
    It’s nice they think it’s too confusing for people, but I’ve got things to do and I want access to my stuff – directly.

  2. For what it’s worth, the Dell Streak 5, if you accept Dell’s claim that it is a tablet, had a numpad-to-the-right keyboard under Android 1.6 firmware.

    1. 5-7 inch tablet like devices are basically Mobile Internet Devices (MID), but the form factor of the Dell Streak 5 is basically a mini-Slate.  Like other devices in the size range have also been called tablets like the convertible tablet/UMPC Fujitsu U810 that had a barely larger 5.6″ screen.
      So though a stretch it’s a little more than a claim to call it a tablet as that’s how most people use the device.  But marketing did have more than a little to do with wanting to call it that considering the present marketing craze around all things tablets.

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