The Android phone and Chrome netbook market is set to get crowded in Australia with several vendors looking to team up with retailers as opposed to phone carriers to sell a new range of phones and netbooks that use Google-developed operating systems.Dell, which is currently trying to cut a deal with JB Hi Fi to sell its PCs, has revealed what it is calling the smallest and most powerful gaming laptop. It has also given journalists a sneak peek at its first so-called tablet, a handheld device with a five-inch screen based on Google’s Android operating system.
Dell claims that the new tablet PC will launch this year. The device is a tad bigger than an Apple iPhone and is designed to easily fit into a bag or briefcase.
The Dell Alienware M11X gaming notebook has an 11-inch screen, powerful processors and extended battery life. It also includes three ways to hook up video, including an HDMI port that lets users connect it to an HDTV screen.
Motorola, which is set to launch several new Android-based phones in Australia this year, has revealed the Backflip, an Android handset that has a touch-screen and keypad, similar to the company’s Droid handset that is proving popular in the US.
The major difference on this device from the Droid is that the Backflip has its keypad in the back, and it can fold out rather than slide out.
The device also features the company’s MotoBlur software, a platform that is designed to integrate social networking and other communications features easily for the user.