HTC failed in initial foray in the tablet market with the now discontinued 7-inch Flyer or 10.1-inch Jetstream but is apparently re-entering the market with devices that use Microsoft's latest tablet software. Bloomberg News, citing unnamed sources, reports that the Taiwanese device-maker is working on a range of new tablets running on Windows RT and powered by Qualcomm chips. HTC is reportedly working on a 12-inch device and a 7-inch version that can also make phone calls. The new tabs are slated to appear in the third quarter of 2013.
What Else You Need To Know
- Windows RT tablets currently in shelves have 10-inch displays.
- Device-makers that released Windows RT tablets in October 2012 include Asus, Samsung, Dell and Lenovo, as well as Microsoft itself.
- HTC was among the early players in the tablet industry, launching a 7-inch Flyer in May 2011 for $499, same price as the market leading 9.7-inch iPad.
- The high-end tablet market is dominated by the current generation iPad and the $199 budget-tablet market is dominated by the Google/Asus Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire.
Other sources
The 7-inch model is particularly interesting since it would be the first Windows RT-powered device in the iPad mini’s size bracket, if it were to launch.- Jon Russell, The Next Web
One interesting point worth noting: if the rumors are in fact correct, HTC's 7-inch tablet would be the first small-scale tablet to run Windows RT. The news, then, might signal Microsoft's first attempt to join in the Kindle Fire/Nexus 7/iPad mini fight.- Jamie Condliffe, Gizmodo
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