Tegra 2 faults may delay Android tablets
updated 09:10 am EDT, Thu April 1, 2010
ICD, Notion Ink, more hurt by Tegra flaws
The ICD Ultra, Notion Ink Adam and other Android-based tablets have been pushed back due to flaws in the NVIDIA Tegra processor they use, a rumor claimed today. The dual-core Tegra 250 at the heart of these and a Compal 7-inch tablet allegedly has "serious issues" of reliability and has pushed back launches until August at the earliest. A SlashGear tipster claimed Compal wouldn't ship its reference design until mid-September, while ICD and Notion Ink wouldn't ship until the fall; ICD's Ultra and Vega wouldn't arrive until October.
Causes for the delay are said to have been very broad. A combination of hardware and software problems, along with the lack of a finished version of Flash 10.1 for Android, are said to be the primary causes. NVIDIA has already been asked for comment but hasn't had the opportunity to respond as of early Thursday morning.
All of the Tegra-related delays could be a setback not just to NVIDIA and its partners but also Google. Android is still promoted first as a phone platform but, this year, has almost always been the operating system of choice for tablets. A significant delay if true would give the iPad at least four months of unimpeded sales and help it build momentum while smaller competitors will have no choice but to wait.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
I sure hope this rumor is true...
I'll enjoy seeing the Android fanboys stew while the iPad captures the tablet market unimpeded for six months or so. I wonder if this has anything to do with the Fusion Garage JooJoo delays. If the JooJoo is suffering from same problems, the remaining 75 pre-orders will likely be cancelled. The unlucky souls will have to hope they can get their money back.