The New York Times technology blogger, Ashlee Vance, has been visited by VIA's VP of marketing, Richard Brown, who brought along a couple of slate or tablet PC samples from China. They're about half the size of Apple's iPad, notes Vance, and they run Android OS. The blog doesn't specify what VIA chips are in these devices but I'm tipping it's the WonderMedia PRIZM.
Whilst Chinese manufacturers building cheap products is not a new story, Brown asserts that the new tablet category is giving opportunity for Chinese manufacturers to hit the big time in the US.
“This is a new market, and China is going to make it happen,” Mr. Brown said. “It certainly remains to be seen, but I think completely new brand names will come out of this tablet market.”
He notes that these Chinese manufacturers have been making smartphones for years now and they're ready to bring out innovative products that "lead rather than follow."
Vance sounds mildly impressed with the samples, although he had a few misgivings about responsiveness and a clunky interface. But Android will mature as time goes on. VIA's WonderMedia PRIZM is a platform that is no doubt easily accessible to Chinese manufacturers and like Android, is open to customizing designs around it.
Whilst Chinese manufacturers building cheap products is not a new story, Brown asserts that the new tablet category is giving opportunity for Chinese manufacturers to hit the big time in the US.
“This is a new market, and China is going to make it happen,” Mr. Brown said. “It certainly remains to be seen, but I think completely new brand names will come out of this tablet market.”
He notes that these Chinese manufacturers have been making smartphones for years now and they're ready to bring out innovative products that "lead rather than follow."
Vance sounds mildly impressed with the samples, although he had a few misgivings about responsiveness and a clunky interface. But Android will mature as time goes on. VIA's WonderMedia PRIZM is a platform that is no doubt easily accessible to Chinese manufacturers and like Android, is open to customizing designs around it.
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