Android tablet for under £130 launched

’70s retro label Binatone are to launch two, sub two hundred pound Android tablet devices.

When we were young Binatone was the label that signified cheap and cheerful audio goods, from hi-fi’s to alarm clock radios. Over the intervening years it’s changed and is now concentrating on the portable electronics market, and it’s recently done incredibly well in the SatNav market and Dect phone market, and it’s now back with a cheap Android device that’s set to sell at £180.

The new Binatone HomeSurf range comprises a seven-inch entry-level tablet HomeSurf 7, and a slightly larger eight-inch tablet HomeSurf 8. As you would expect on a sub-£200 device there are some things missing. For a start the devices are both wifi only, have just 2GB of built-in storage – although it’s expandable via microSD – there’s a 3.5mm audio jack with headphones, speakers and a built in microphone.

The seven-inch tablet has a TFT LCD screen with an 800×480 pixel resolution, while the eight-inch device has a slightly better 800×600 resolution. Both devices have resistive, or pressure-sensitive, touch-screens and will ship with styluses.

Both devices run on Android 1.6, and will not be upgradeable to later versions of Android.

The HomeSurf 7 will have a price tag of £129.99, and the HomeSurf 8 will be £179.99 and will be available in the autumn presumably in time for the Christmas market.

Products and features:

HomeSurf 7 Touch Tablet

7” TFT LCD, 800×480 pixel (WVGA)
Resistive Touch Screen with Stylus
Wifi b/g
Android OS
2GB Storage (expandable via MicroSD)
Auto rotating screen
MicroSD Card slot (SD/SDHC)
Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery
Video Playback (MP4, H.264, XVID)
Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery
Stereo Speakers
Built-in Microphone
3.5 mm Stereo Audio Jack with headphones
Mini USB cable for data transfer
Video Playback Time 3h

HomeSurf 8 Touch Tablet

8” TFT LCD, 800×600 pixel (SVGA)
Resistive Touch Screen with Stylus
5 Cap-Sens keys
Wifi b/g
Android OS
2GB Storage (expandable via MicroSD)
Auto rotating screen
Micro SD Card slot (SD/SDHC)
Video Playback support MP4, H.264
Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery
Video Playback Time 4h
Stereo Speakers
Built-in microphone
3.5 mm Stereo Audio Jack
Mini USB cable for data transfer
Charging dock with Speaker