Encipher Set to Unveil Android Powered Tablet

After watching Apple’s iPad success, it seems that more companies have started to show interest in tablet computers.

While Apple is yet to acquire the monopoly in the tablet market, huge companies such as Microsoft, Nokia & HP are also planning to come up with their own tablets (slates, if you like).

And yeah, Google is planning to release an Andriod powered tablet too. (See image above)

But hey, Encipher, a growing technology consultancy based in the UK and founded by seasoned Nigerian technology entrepreneurs, Saheed Adepoju and Anibe Agamah is set to unveil the prototype of an Andriod powered tablet this weekend.

Encipher provides Cloud computing based services with the following focus in mind: Platform as a Service, Software as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service.

Remember, I said prototype – which means you don’t get to see the finished product yet:)

The announcement was first published in a Facebook email update by the Encipher team to their fans yesterday. It reads:

Hello all

Encipher will be unveiling its prototype tablet running android OS from Google. As a seasoned member, you will all get a sneak preview of its pictures and possibly an unveiling video.

Many thanks for your support.

Encipher

As unbelievable as this may sound, I assured myself that April fool was over, so I wouldn’t be doing myself any hurt if I got curious a little bit.

My curiosity led me to contacting one of Encipher’s founders. We had a long FB chat about the new product and got the rare opportunity to view a sneak preview of the tablet before the unveiling.

Today, I received a snapshot of the Encipher tablet!

What are the features?

The Encipher Andriod OS powered tablet would have the following specs, although according to Encipher, “this is a work -in-progress and does not reflect the final version of the first product”.

CPU: Rockchip 2808 processor

Memory: 512MB

HDD: 2G (Nand Flash).

LCD: 7″ 800×480 resolution.

OS: Google Android

Wifi: 802.11 b/g.

Support for TV-Out, HDMI, USB 2.0 ports, built-in stereo speakers, 35mm earphone. SD/MMC card port.

Dimensions: 208mm x 119mm x 24.5mm

Battery: 4.5 hours standby time, 2.5 hours working time.

Accessories: AC adapter, user manual, HDMI cable

Well, Encipher’s prototype tablet technical specifications seems to be dwarfed by that of the Apple’s iPad. That said, I guess it would be too early to say the least for the new tablet. Time will tell.

According to Saheed Adepoju, Co-founder and Innovation Manager of Encipher, “the new tablet beats Amazon’s Kindle as it has other purposes rather than a standard ebook reader”.

He further stated that [Encipher] does not “intend to combat with Google…but hopes to “sell [Encipher's] cloud computing services via the device”, such as Hosted Exchange, Cloud storage, Cloud Backup, Hosted desktops, Hosted VoIp, etc. The Encipher tablet when officially released will include Google maps, Ebook reader, Fb app and standard android apps, amongst others.

Encipher is a growing technology consultancy with bases in the UK and Nigeria and with expertise in ensuring that products and services are always available on the “cloud”, regardless of platform or device.

Disclosure: Encipher Group is a major IT/technology partner for Startups Nigeria, which I founded in 2008, although I am not part of the Encipher team.

Final words

While we await the unveiling of the Encipher prototype tablet online from Saturday, May 1, 2010 to May 8, 2010, I must say that this news is very exciting and is worth spreading. If you are on Facebook (well, I’ll assume that you’re there right now), you can R.S.V.P at the Encipher prototype tablet unveiling page.

This event, according to Encipher, will unveil over the period, the features of the Encipher Tablet codename: “The One”. It will provide details of the hardware and its capabilities.

No doubt, I’ll be covering the new product in future posts, so if you’ve not yet subscribed to my blog feed, you can do so here.

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