HP officially enters the Android tablet space with a $169 7-inch Tablet

We heard the rumors that HP was going to jump into the Android tablet market soon. They have been playing about Android builds and tablets since 2010, so a report has said, but nothing official was ever released. We know the TouchPad was a prime candidate and even shipped out with an Android build installed on accident. HP denied any and all knowledge of it and refused to offer up and source or anything else.

HP has officially announced the HP Slate 7. Obviously this is a 7-inch tablet that they hope will directly compete with the like of the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD. Only because of the price tag, $169. The Slate 7 features a 1024 x 600 FFS+ LCD screen, 1.6 GHz dual-core A9 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage and a removable memory card slot. It looks to be released in two colors, a silver/black and a red/black. It is running Android 4.1, so that is a nice perk. Judging from HP’s Slate 7 promo page, it looks to be fairly stock, but without getting our grubby hands on it we don’t know what they might have added on the inside. They also have Beats Audio certification integrated as well.

The Slate 7 is scheduled to be available April of this year. You can sign up to be notified of when it becomes available if you would like.

This won’t be the last announcement from HP though. They have also admitted they will be announcing a number of smartphones too. No direct mention of any of them being Android based, unlocked, carrier branded or anything else. We will be keeping an eye out for what announce though.

NO matter how you cut the cheese, a solid performing Android tablet at a price that us poor folks can afford is a pretty nice way to start the new year. I could see my self picking one of these up for the kids. They just need Angry Birds and some movies. Are you going to consider picking one up when they are released?

Via Android Headline 

Press Release 

BARCELONA, SPAIN–(Marketwire – Feb 24, 2013) – HP (NYSE: HPQ) today announced the HP Slate⁷, an affordable Android Jelly Bean consumer tablet that provides customers with easy access to Google Mobile services.

With a 7-inch diagonal screen and weighing 13 ounces, the HP Slate⁷ is an ideal trusted personal companion, featuring a stainless-steel frame and soft black paint in gray or red on the back. It also is the industry’s first tablet to offer embedded Beats Audio, for the best-sounding, richest audio experience available on a tablet.

The HP Slate⁷ delivers the Google experience with services like Google Now, Google Search, Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive and Google+ Hangouts for multiperson video chat as well as access to apps and digital content through Google Play.⁽¹⁾

“To address the growing interest in tablets among consumers and businesses alike, HP will offer a range of form factors and leverage an array of operating systems,” said Alberto Torres, senior vice president, Mobility Global Business Unit, HP. “Our new HP Slate^7 on Android represents a compelling entry point for consumer tablets, while our ground-breaking, business-ready HP ElitePad on Windows® 8 is ideal for enterprises and governments. Both deliver the service and support people expect from HP.”

The HP Slate⁷ joins the recently introduced HP Chromebook as part of HP’s push to offer access to the Google experience.

HP’s tablet offerings reside in the company’s newly formed Mobility Global Business Unit, established in September 2012 with the hiring of Torres. Torres joined HP from Nokia, where he was executive vice president and oversaw the MeeGo products and platform.

HP Slate⁷ makes computing easy while on the go
Powered by an ARM Dual Core Cortex-A9 1.6 GHz processor, the HP Slate⁷ is fast and responsive. Integrated wireless allows customers to access email, the internet and key applications, while the High-aperture-ratio Field Fringe Switching (HFFS) panel offers wide viewing angles that provide easy viewing of documents, games, photos and videos — even in outdoor lighting conditions.

The HP Slate⁷ includes a 3-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA camera on the front for chatting, videos and photos.

With the HP ePrint ⁽²⁾ application, customers can easily print while at home or on the go, and the exclusive native printing capability enables customers to print directly from most applications. A micro USB port allows customers to easily transfer files, and a suite of applications from HP spans exclusive games to productivity tools.

HP will provide an array of simple and easy-to-access support tools and resources to help customers take full advantage of all of the features the HP Slate⁷ has to offer. In addition to extensive phone and online support offerings included with the HP Slate⁷, HP is offering customers the opportunity to add to the standard product limited warranty with its HP Care Pack services. HP Slate⁷ customers will have the option to protect their investment with a two-year HP Care Pack for $29 or a two-year HP Care Pack with Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) for $49.⁽³⁾

Pricing and availability⁽³⁾
The HP Slate⁷ is expected to be available in the United States in April with a starting price of $169.