While Apple Inc. has sold more than 20 million units of the iPad, consumers have refused to open their wallets for Android devices offered by rivals. But if Sony Corp. is lucky, Sony tablets will literally be on people's purses or pockets by the end of the year.

Sony Corp. is releasing this fall two portable non-slab styled tablets, code-named "S1" and "S2" for now. The tablets depart from the usual square, flat slab-style of the present tablets that have failed to put a dent to Apple's dominance in the market.

The S1 is a 9.4-inch tablet that features a folded design. Tapering from one end to the other, the device looks like a magazine with the cover folded backward. The center of balance is on the wider end with the hand holding the device. The device provides a tilted angle for typing. The S1 also has a USB port that is not available from other popular tablets. It is currently has WiFi only, although Sony said that it may introduce support for other connections later.

The S2 is a double-screened device closely resembles Nintendo's DS handheld gaming device. Designed for portability, device can be folded to fit a pocket or purse, but would have two 5.4-inch displays, with 1024 x 480 resolution, when opened. The device has Tegra 2 SoC cameras. The open-and-shut device can be turned into a book, mimicking the thumbing through the pages when reading an e-book. For gaming, the bottom screen will be converted to a touch-sensitive virtual control game pad, while the screen above displays the game.

These tablets are real -- they're not languishing in Sony's design center among those that would never come to be. In fact, Sony showed of the prototypes to reporters and let them briefly handle the devices at an event in San Francisco, California, in the U.S., on Wednesday. In addition, AT&T Inc. has already announced that it will be adding the S2 in its 4G LTE portfolio. AT&T will be the exclusive U.S. mobile broadband provider for the S2.

Sony will release the S1 and S2 in the fall of this year.

More Features from Sony

Aside from those nothing-we've-seen-before features, Sony has released additional details of the tablets.
The tablets would run on Google's Android Honneycomb operating system. Like other Android devices, they will have Adobe Flash capability and DLNA compatibility. Early this year, Motorola has already released Android-based Xoom tablet, which did not actually receive glowing reviews.

Sony though hopes to transcend beyond what Android devices are usually offering. Sony is bringing out QuickView and QuickTouch Panel. QuickView enables web pages to load much faster while the QuickTouch Panel enables speedier scrolling on the devices when using an app or a browser.

Relying on its massive electronics portfolio, Sony also said that the S1 and S2 can connect to other Sony products, including Blu-Ray players, TVs and the PlayStation networkr.

The tablets will come pre-loaded with the game "Crash Bandicoot". For more games, users can access Sony's PlayStation Suite, where a library of PlayStation games can be downloaded.

"With its unprecedented, completely portable form factor, the 'Sony Tablet' S2 offers tablet enthusiasts a convenient and unique entertainment experience," said David Haight, vice president of business development, in a statement. "Users will be treated to exceptional graphics and the touch-screen capabilities will enable a fast and efficient website experience."

iPad Killer?

Amid the tablet craze brought by Apple Inc.'s iPad, we now have more offerings in the market: BlackBerry maker Research In Motion's PlayBook, Apple nemesis Samsung Electronics Inc.'s Galaxy Tab, Netbook pioneer Asus' Eee Pad, HTC's EVO View 4G, and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s Xoom have tried to be the iPad killer, but these iPad wannabes have barely made a dent in the market. Joining the tablets on shelves this month are top desktop vendor Hewlett Packard's Wi-Fi version of HP TouchPad ($500 for the 16 GB unit) and Internet protocol-based networking provider Cisco Systems Inc.'s Cisco Cius ($750). Amazon will also reportedly launch a tablet PC in the third quarter.

But analysts and market research firms project that Apple will continue to dominate the tablet market in the next two years. Research firm IDC noted that the iPad 2 continue to dominate the media tablet market, as other vendors have had a more difficult time finding market acceptance for their products.

While Google's Android operating system is already the top platform for smartphone (as Samsung, HTC and many others are using the platform and only Apple is using its proprietary iOS), Android devices have been unable to penetrate the tablet market.
Apple and its iPad are already ahead of rivals by more than a year. More than available 100,000 applications optimized for the iPad are available for downloading from the App Store, in addition to the 200,000 iPhone apps that can be used for the tablet. While Android Marketplace already has the apps that are popular on the iPad, they are tailored for the smartphones, and the apps for the tablets have yet to gain ground.

In fact, to boost more apps, Sony, along with Adobe Systems, is conducting a developer contest to encourage developers to create apps for the S1 and S2. The winner is set to receive $200,000.

Verdict

Sony Corp. is definitely giving never-seen-before type of tablets. Plus it is relying on its massive electronics portfolio to link the tablets to other Sony devices. As to performance, regardless of the exclusive add-ons, it will likely perform as other tablet rivals as it still runs on Android. Based on the design, Sony could be poised to find the same success it had accomplished with the Walkman or its PlayStation gaming console. However, performance-wise, the iPad and its iOS have set the bar in tablets. Already having 80% of the market, Apple has had already more than a year to perfect the iPad tablet, remove glitches, and provide adequate apps. Sony appears to be late in the game.

Sony in fact does not aim to kill the iPad. Brendan McDermid, writing in a blog post at Reuters said, with S1 and S2, Sony at the San Francisco event this week "vowed to take the No. 2 tablet spot behind Apple."

Sony has not shown all its cards in the table -- it has not provided the exact names, the hardware specifications, the release date, and the pricing. But the facts are that the S1 and S2 are definitely head turners, and Sony has opened a new dimension in the tablet market by refusing to put up similar looking products hoping to replace the iPad.

PROs

* Form factors differentiate from other tablets

* QuickView and QuickTouch Panel features

* Can fit in pocket or purse but maintains appropriate screen size (S2)

* Can connect to other Sony products and PlayStation network

CONs

* Runs on Android, which while becoming more reliable, very few tablets on Android are in the market.

* iPad has more available apps.