Wikipad Gaming Tablet Release And Hardware Details. Will Likely Launch Early This Year 2013

Very interesting indeed.

This offers console-quality control via dual analog sticks/Dpad, four triggers, and face-buttons on the left and right sides that is compatible with most every Android game on Google Play via Keyboard-mapping (any keyboard-mapping-supported game will “map” itself to the controller buttons seamlessly so say people who’ve played with it). Making it very easy to play games created for tablets in console-style, and makes it compatible with a ton of emulators for those who like to download retro console titles. All of this makes lots of dowloadable games very easy to pick up and play and sometimes superior to their touch-screen only cousins due to the extremely well-designed controller buttons.

Other digital gaming services support the device out-of-the-box including PlayStation Mobile, nvidia Tegrazone, possibly Gakai (an “OnLive”-style streaming service that originally supported the device until they were bought by Sony. Sony then gave the Wikipad “PlayStation Mobile” support, but has yet to confirm Gakai support), casual-game service Big Fish Unlimited, and the promise of other gaming services to come. OnLive, anyone?

What’s more, the device is a very high-quality tablet that gives the iPad 4 a run for it’s money, and the dockable controller can be snapped off so you can use the tablet by itself, just like any other tablet controller. The device is super powerful, running Android 4.1 Jellybean OS and is powered by nVidia’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor and a twelve-core GPU for lightning fast speeds and unrivaled raw processing power. It also features a built-in Gyroscope, Compass and 3-Axis Accelerometer for motion-control, features 8GB of internal space with support for 32GB Micro SD Cards, and features both a front and rear camera! The front camera is a whopping 8 Megapixel with auto focus and flash! Allowing you to take HD pictures or video of amazing quality, the front camera is 2MP. The device is also one of the thinnest on the market at 0.34” thick and is super light at only 1.23lbs! The screen is a whopping 10.1 inches (16:10 IPS) and unlike the Wii U it features Multi-Touch capability, has a built-in microphone and headphone jack, built-in GPS and stereo speakers.

Sadly, the Wikipad device was supposed to launch in Halloween 2012, then holiday 2012, but has been delayed further to early 2013. Now that 2013 is officially here, we should get a new announcement on the device’s launch soon. The website was updated on January 4th announcing Big Fish Unlimited, so the device looks to still be a go.

Upon launch, you will be able to buy it via Amazon, in GameStop stores (which were offering pre-orders before the delay, anyone who pre-ordered will be getting a special gift for it upon launch), at Best Buy, buy.com, Target, Newegg.com, Walmart, Tempo and surely other retailers post-launch.

I’ll keep you posted on this device and give you my own impressions if I can get my hands on one.

Wikipad Full Technical Speaks

PROCESSOR
nVidia Tegra 3 Quad-core (1.4GHz)
OPERATING SYSTEM
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
DISPLAY
10.1″ (diagonal) LCD (1280×800) 16:10 ratio wide-view panel
Capacitive multi-touch screen (supports 10-point gesture)
Scratch-resistant military-grade screen
WIRELESS
WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 3.1+
STORAGE
Internal Memory: 1GB LPDDR
Flash Memory: 16GB
Micro SD Slot: supports up to 32GB
SENSORS
3-axis Accelerometer
Ambient Light Sensor
e-Compass
Gyroscope
Active Vibration
INPUT / OUTPUT
Docking connector port
3.5mm stereo headphone minijack
Built-in stereo speakers
Microphone
Micro USB connector
HDMI output
CAMERA
Front: 2-megapixel
Rear: 8-megapixel (Autofocus, flash)
BATTERY / POWER
Built-in 23.46 watt-hour rechargable lithium-polymer battery
Up to 8 hrs watching video
Charging via power adapter (included)
SIZE / WEIGHT
Width: 10.34 inches (262.6 mm)
Height: 6.91 inches (175.4 mm)
Depth: 0.34 inch (8.6 mm)
Weight: 1.23 pounds (560 g)