First Android ICS tablet NOVO7 is based on MIPS processor, costs $99, and is endorsed by Andy Rubin

25comments
First Android ICS tablet NOVO7 is based on MIPS processor, costs $99, and is endorsed by Andy Rubin
Silicon from the Californian MIPS Technology is powering a 7" tablet that runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich and can be yours for $99 plus $66 shipping charges. This breaks three milestones right there - the sub-$100 barrier, the first with Android ICS, and the first non-ARM ICS slate with MIPS SoC.

The NOVO7 slate uses the MIPS-based XBurst processor from the Chinese Ingenic Semiconductor, called JZ4770. The SoC runs at 1GHz and includes the Vivante GC860 GPU, which allows for 1080p video playback and 3D games. The tablet maker claims 7 hours of web browsing and six hours of gaming with the chunky ICS slate, due to the power-sipping MIPS technology.

Chinese Android tablets are a dime a dozen, and, although this one is listed with a 7" capacitive touchscreen, USB 2.0 port and microHDMI ports, as well as 2MP rear camera and a front-facing one, it is probably still a clunker, if history is any indication.

What piqued our interest though is that Google's Andy Rubin himself seems to be satisfied with this development that not only breaks the $100 tablet barrier, but is also the first tablet to officially be sold with Android ICS onboard:

After this lavish endorsement it is no surprise that the NOVO7 tablet has passed the Google Compatibility Test Suite certification, and is ready to run Google's services as well as the thousands of apps on Android Market - it comes with Spiderman preinstalled. Still, no data is given for the screen resolution and the internal memory, so we wouldn't expect wonders in those areas, but the $99 slate does offer a microSD card slot for good measure.

Recommended Stories


source: MIPSTechnologies, Ainovo via AndroidCentral

Recommended Stories

Loading Comments...
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless