Lenovo preps five-inch Android rival to Galaxy Note, Streak
updated 09:55 am EST, Tue November 22, 2011
Lenovo IdeaTab to try crossover phone, tablet
Lenovo is trying its hand at the crossover phone and tablet category headed up by the Samsung Galaxy Note and Dell Streak, a new leak has uncovered. To be badged as an IdeaTab in most of the world and a LePad in China, the five-inch Android device seen by Engadget would be designed as a phone first and tablet second. Little is known about what's inside, although the presence of capacitive buttons at the bottom casts doubt on whether or not the IdeaTab will have Android 4.0 when it ships.
Apart from this, the clearest visible hardware features are a front camera, micro USB and HDMI video output, suggesting it will at least have a processor fast enough to drive HD video.
When and how the five-inch IdeaTab would ship isn't known. Lenovo often likes to unveil new hardware at CES and may showcase the device at the January event. Only just getting a first sighting might suggest that any CES introduction wouldn't have the mini-tablet shipping until some time after the show.
Lenovo entering the crossover phone and tablet category is unusual given that it has had few participants. Dell, the only real entrant until the Galaxy Note week ago, failed to get significant share and dropped the smaller Streak.
