The Tablet S (formerly named S1) is the first modern

tablet computer A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touchscreen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. Tablets, being comput ...

released by

Sony , commonly stylized as SONY, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. As a major technology company, it operates as one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer and professional ...

. Featuring a "unique asymmetric design", the Tablet S runs Google's Android 3.2 Honeycomb operating system and features a multitouch display, 1 GHz

Nvidia Tegra Tegra is a system on a chip (SoC) series developed by Nvidia for mobile devices such as smartphones, personal digital assistants, and mobile Internet devices. The Tegra integrates an ARM architecture central processing unit (CPU), graphics pro ...

2 dual core processor,

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wave ...

ability, front- and rear-facing cameras, Bluetooth, and an

infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...

sensor. It is also configured with access to the

Sony Entertainment Network Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) was a digital media delivery service operated by Sony. SEN provided access to services, including PlayStation Network for games, Video Unlimited for film and television, Music Unlimited for music, and PlayMemo ...

and is

PlayStation Certified PlayStation Mobile (formerly PlayStation SuiteHinkle, David. (2012-06-04 HTC is first partner for 'PlayStation Mobile,' the new name for PlayStation Suite pdate: Press release added Joystiq. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.) was a software framework us ...

and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) compatible. Tablet S was first released in September 2011. It was succeeded by the Xperia Tablet S, which would be created by Sony's new subsidiary Sony Mobile.

Design

The main distinguishing feature of the Tablet S is its "unique asymmetric design" in which the thickness of the device tapers from . This "wrap" effect is intended to evoke an "open paperback stuffed into the back pocket, or a magazine folded backward upon itself such that only a single page is visible to read," and reduces the amount of

torque In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...

while being held. Sony claims that this "off-center of gravity design realizes stability and ease of grip as well as a sense of stability and lightness, offering comfortable use for hours."

Hardware

The Tablet S features a , 1280×800 pixel resolution,

TFT LCD A thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT LCD) is a variant of a liquid-crystal display that uses thin-film-transistor technology to improve image qualities such as addressability and contrast. A TFT LCD is an active matrix LCD, in cont ...

using Sony's proprietary TruBlack Display—the same technology as that used in the company's

Bravia Bravia (stylized as BRAVIA) is a brand of Sony Visual Products Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, and used for its television products. Its backronym is "Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture". All Sony high-defi ...

range of televisions. It uses the

T20

system on a chip A system on a chip or system-on-chip (SoC ; pl. ''SoCs'' ) is an integrated circuit that integrates most or all components of a computer or other electronic system. These components almost always include a central processing unit (CPU), memory ...

(SoC), which consists of a 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A9 dual core processor and a ULP GeForce

graphics processing unit A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed to manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device. GPUs are used in embedded systems, mobi ...

(GPU), with 1 GB RAM and either 16 or 32 GB internal storage and support for SD memory cards up to 32 GB. Other onboard features include an

accelerometer An accelerometer is a tool that measures proper acceleration. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change of velocity) of a body in its own instantaneous rest frame; this is different from coordinate acceleration, which is accele ...

, 3-axis

gyroscope A gyroscope (from Ancient Greek γῦρος ''gŷros'', "round" and σκοπέω ''skopéō'', "to look") is a device used for measuring or maintaining orientation and angular velocity. It is a spinning wheel or disc in which the axis of rota ...

magnetometer A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetic field or magnetic dipole moment. Different types of magnetometers measure the direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a particular location. A compass is one such device, o ...

(digital compass),

GPS receiver A satellite navigation device (satnav device) is a user equipment that uses one or more of several global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) to calculate the device's geographical position and provide navigational advice. Depending on the s ...

, 802.11b/g/n

, Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR, infrared,

Micro USB The initial versions of the USB standard specified connectors that were easy to use and that would have acceptable life spans; revisions of the standard added smaller connectors useful for compact portable devices. Higher-speed development of t ...

, microphone, 3.5 mm headphone jack and 0.3 MP front-facing and 5 MP rear-facing cameras. Like other Android devices, the Tablet S has no hardware navigation buttons, which are all implemented via persistent on-screen buttons. The only physical buttons present on the device are the power button and volume rocker located in the recessed area on one side. The tablet uses a proprietary power connector.

Software

The Tablet S1 was initially launched with Android 3.1 Honeycomb, but a 3.2 update was made available soon after its release. Also, it received an upgrade to

Android 4.0.3 Android Ice Cream Sandwich (or Android 4.0) is the 9th major version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google. Unveiled on October 19, 2011, Android 4.0 builds upon the significant changes made by the tablet-only release Androi ...

at the end of April (in Japan and the US). It uses a customized version of the operating system. Features and applications unique to the Sony device include: * A customizable row of most frequently used icons on the top-left of the screen * A "Favourites" bar at the top-right * A customized version of the Android web browser * A universal remote control app for the built-in IR transmitter * Apps for accessing

(Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited) * An app for

Sony Reader The Sony Reader was a line of e-book readers manufactured by Sony, who produced the first commercial E Ink e-reader with the Sony Librie in 2004. It used an electronic paper display developed by E Ink Corporation, was viewable in direct sunlight, ...

eBooks * Social Feed Reader—an application that aggregates

Facebook Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...

and

Twitter Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...

social media status updates *

Crash Bandicoot ''Crash Bandicoot'' is a video game franchise originally developed by Naughty Dog as an exclusive for Sony's PlayStation console. It has seen numerous installments created by various developers and published on multiple platforms. The series co ...

and Pinball Heroes

PlayStation Store The PlayStation Store (PS Store) is a digital media store available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The store offers a range of downloadable content ...

games Although Sony Tablet S is a

PlayStation Certified PlayStation Mobile (formerly PlayStation SuiteHinkle, David. (2012-06-04 HTC is first partner for 'PlayStation Mobile,' the new name for PlayStation Suite [Update: Press release added Joystiq. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.) was a software framework us ...

device, an update to the

disabled all such devices from being able to purchase PS one classics. Instead, only original content will be available for purchase by Tablet S owners. In September 2012, Sony Tablet S received a major update to Android 4.0.3 Release 5a, which brought the following notable changes: *Added Guest mode (before Google announced multiple-user accounts would be supported on Android 4.2 tablets) *Added Small Apps and supports widgets, and support for Support Development Kit *Added macro functionality to Remote Control App and skin change *Added input languages for Japanese (Hand-writing), Korean, Arabic, Thai, and Greek *Replaced Social Feed Reader Cloud app with Socialife *Replaced DLNA, Video Player and Music Player apps with Walkman, Album and Movies. *Renamed PersonalSpace to PlayMemories Online *Renamed Select to Sony select *Removed Favorite app *Added xLOUD and Clear Phase audio enhancers. The Sony Tablet S was confirmed for an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which would have arrived in February 2013. However, the Jelly Bean 4.1 update was unofficially cancelled when Sony posted (and later removed) in their community message board stating "we do not have a roadmap to release the Jelly Bean update for the 1st Generation Tablet (Sony Tablet S)."

Reception

Reviewers have largely been positive towards the Sony Tablet S, praising its unique ("thoroughly renovated"Sony Xperia Tablet S review
at TrustedReviews.com) design. ''

The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...

'' said that "the Tablet S will appeal to buyers who would like a distinctive tablet from a trusted company that doesn't look like an iPad wannabe" while ''

PC World ''PC World'' (stylized as PCWorld) is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. Since 2013, it has been an online only publication. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal tech ...

'' said " onyhas not lost its design mojo over the years, as this model brings Sony's originality and flair to a tablet market that desperately needs both." Asher Moses from the ''

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...

'' called it "best Android tablet yet." Negative comments are directed at the device's high price and poor build quality. Tech blog

Gizmodo ''Gizmodo'' ( ) is a design, technology, science and science fiction website. It was originally launched as part of the Gawker Media network run by Nick Denton, and runs on the Kinja platform. ''Gizmodo'' also includes the subsite ''io9'', whic ...

called it "plasticky" and pointed out that Sony's use of inferior materials to save on weight led to their unit getting "seriously scratched during a totally routine photo shoot" and commented that it would "smash into a million pieces" if dropped.

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...

observed that the Tablet S falls short of Sony's aspirations to compete with the iPad, with reviewer Jared Newman quoting Sony CEO Howard Stringer's comments, and saying "if the Tablet S is what Stringer has in mind, I weep for Sony’s future." The ExpertReviews wrote that the absence of video output was an annoying drawback.Sony Xperia Tablet S review - expertreviews.co.uk
/ref> Some reviewers criticize the tablet for Low-res screen and ageing software.

Recognition

The Tablet S was an honoree in the

Consumer Electronics Association The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) is a standard and trade organization representing 1,376 consumer technology companies in the United States. CTA works to influence public policy, holds events such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES ...

's CES Innovation Design and Engineering Awards 2012, in the "Tablets, E-Readers and Netbooks" category.

References