Let battle commence: Google, Motorola et al poised to challenge Apple
With the buzz surrounding the iPad and Mr Murdoch's new non-paper The Daily, the question is: can anyone take on Apple? Well, Google and Motorola are going to have a go later this month.
The Motorola Xoom, the first tablet to run the latest version of Google's Android, dubbed Honeycomb, is expected to hit the market in the US this month. The price is still unknown.
But on Wednesday in California Google let journalists play with the Xoom for a few minutes. And they were impressed.
One big plus: previously Android users had to obtain apps through their phone or tablet; the new Android Market Web Store will let you buy mobile apps through a Web browser, then install them automatically on any Android smartphone or tablet computer.
The San Jose Mercury News says that could encourage developers to build applications for Google instead of Apple's iPhone and iPad.
Honeycomb has little windows called "grid widgets" that open in the home screen for things like calendars, e-mail inbox, breaking news and internet bookmarks.
Look out for 3-D graphics, including "carousels" that appear to revolve within the screen, allowing you to select books, music or other content stored on the tablet. Video chat will be built into Honeycomb.
The Mercury News reported, "Google dialed up rapper Cee-Lo to demonstrate the technology at the heavily attended press event in Mountain View."
Hugo Barra, Android's product management chief, spoke of "incredible opportunities for innovation" in this new class of device. "We can't predict what the developer community is going to build," he said.
Avi Greengart, an analyst with Current Analysis, said that when Android was focused on free apps it didn't really encourage application developers. "Therefore in some cases Android did not get the best quality apps".
"When you make your platform more attractive to developers, you're going to make your platform more attractive to consumers who want to buy apps."
Scott Ellison, an analyst with the research firm IDC agreed. He said if Google could make developers' financial lives better it would help Google compete with Apple.
He added that their research suggested "developers believe Android is a much more capable operating system than (Apple's) iOS."
Another big spin off: new advertising revenue opportunities are also likely for Google.