Search Engine Land’s Gadget Release Calendar

Wondering when that next tablet or smartphone will be coming out? We do, too! To keep track, here’s a rundown of what we know about particular devices. Devices below are listed roughly in order of release date. I’ll add more items over time. This isn’t a complete list of all coming gadgets out there. Far […]

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Wondering when that next tablet or smartphone will be coming out? We do, too! To keep track, here’s a rundown of what we know about particular devices.

Devices below are listed roughly in order of release date. I’ll add more items over time. This isn’t a complete list of all coming gadgets out there. Far from it. Rather, it’s mainly a list of devices that have caught my attention and which might be of interest to Search Engine Land readers in general. It’s also focused on US releases. Sorry, but that’s where I based.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer: Out April 26 (and already sold-out online at Best Buy), this 10″ tablet runs Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” like the Motorola Xoom tablet but costs $100 less — selling for $399. You can spend that extra savings on a $150 docking station designed to make it laptop-like. It has a 10″ screen and sports dual cameras. Engadget has a long review about it, rating it above the Xoom. Motorola never sent me a Xoom review unit, so I can’t comment on it. But for $100 less, the Asus looks pretty attractive.

Amazon Kindle With Special Offers: Want to save $25 and get a Kindle for $114, versus the $139 regular price for a wifi-only version? Amazon has a new version with little offers that show on the bottom of your screen or on the screensaver. Me, I don’t think $25 is enough of a discount for Amazon to be showing ads. But I also think the Kindle is a low-tech toy (so far, in my few days of owning one) compared to reading books through the Kindle on the iPad. Seriously, no touchscreen? Seriously, I need a light to read the Kindle in the dark? But “E Ink” lovers, well, love the Kindle’s screen.

Verizon Samsung Droid Charge (and see here on Verizon): Due out on April 28, according to Samsung, this is Verizon’s second 4G Android phone. As an owner of Verizon’s first 4G Android phone, the HTC Thunderbolt, I can’t wait. The Thunderbolt is amazingly fast downloading data, but it’s also a clunky battery-hogging mess compared to other Android phones I’ve used. Seriously, no “delete” button in the native mail app? Geez. I’m hoping to get a test unit from Samsung to compare to the Thunderbolt (waiting to hear back from them). If it’s positive, I’ll probably sell the Thunderbolt and convert.

Sprint Google Nexus S: The Nexus S is “pure” Google Android, without carrier or handset makers adding their own stuff to the mix. I loved the version I tested on T-Mobile (see review below) but hated it not being 4G. Sprint is getting a 4G version, which sounds attractive. When? Due out May 8 for $200 with a two-year agreement. What about the Nexus S for AT&T or Verizon? There’s an unofficial version that works with AT&T’s system. Sadly, there are no fresh rumors of Verizon getting one.

HTC Flyer Android Tablet: Due out in “spring” according to Best Buy, that means you should expect it by late May or early June. You can pre-order from Best Buy now. The Flyer has a 7″ diagonal screen, two cameras and runs Android 2.3 or “Gingerbread” but supposedly, reports the LA Times, will be upgradeable to the Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” version used by the Motorola Xoom tablet. $499 for the wifi-only version. 3G and 4G versions due out later this year. But hey, you can get a Barnes & Noble Color Nook for $249 — same screen, size but $250 less. OK, you’re only getting Android 2.2 (not much lost versus Android 2.3) and no cameras. Also no promised upgrade to Honeycomb (though there are unofficial ways to do this).

T-Mobile HTC Sensation: Running on T-Mobile’s “4G” network, this is a 4.3″ Android-powered smartphone due out around June 8, as some ads have proclaimed.

Motorola Droid Bionic 4G: The third of Verizon’s 4G phones isn’t due out until the summer of this year, delayed, reports the Wall Street Journal, to incorporate new features from when it was shown earlier this year at CES. I’ve got high hopes for this phone, given I’ve generally liked Motorola’s implementation of Android on phones the best, so far. But tastes differ, as do particular phones.

Google Chrome OS Laptops: Expect Google’s cloud-based computing platform to come out in summer, according to Neowin. Rather than buy the units, you might instead “subscribe” to them for $10 to $20 per month.

More Information

Below are some past reviews of gadgets from Search Engine Land that may provide more information about some of the products above:


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


About the author

Danny Sullivan
Contributor
Danny Sullivan was a journalist and analyst who covered the digital and search marketing space from 1996 through 2017. He was also a cofounder of Third Door Media, which publishes Search Engine Land and MarTech, and produces the SMX: Search Marketing Expo and MarTech events. He retired from journalism and Third Door Media in June 2017. You can learn more about him on his personal site & blog He can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

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