Sony plans to launch two Android-powered tablets

By the end of the year, we will have not one but two Sony-branded tablets to choose from.

The devices, codenamed S1 and S2, will run on Google’s Android operating system. Sony’s entry into the tablet market is no surprise, although maybe a little late in the day. The gadgets themselves may be interesting though: one of the tablets will have a 9.4 inch touchscreen, with the other one having a dual 5.5 inch screen that folds closed.

The tablets will also transmit video and music to TVs and stereos, using the DLNA wireless streaming standard. There is also talk of interaction capabilities with PlayStations, and maybe even some gaming on the actual tablet.

The tablet will be branded as Sony, something that has come as a surprise to some: “It is interesting that they come in with the Sony brand rather than Sony Ericsson,” Gartner tablet analyst Carolina Milanesi told BBC News. “That raises questions about what they are going to do to link their tablets to their smartphone operating system because tablet users are going to want that same experience.”