The Freescale Tablet with a 7-inch touchscreen represents a form factor between the typical smartphone and notebook. The design allows for all-day battery life (12 hours) with instant-on functionality and persistent connectivity. Freescale Semiconductor demonstrated the reference design at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. The novel features are the integrated i.MX515 processor using ARM Cortex A8 technology, the optional keyboard docking station and the $200 retail starting price. There are numerous connection options including WIFI-N, and a 3G modem is optional.

With the introduction of the Apple iPad, Freescale is shifting its focus of the Freescale Tablet to the eBook Reader market.http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/freescale-places-new-bet-on-the-e-reader-market/ Telephone providers are considering free tablets as a way to attract customers presumably using reference designs like the Freescale Tablet.http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-06/broadcom-says-phone-companies-will-offer-free-tablet-computers.html The Freescale Tablet is expected to appear this summer from an OEM.

The Freescale reference design is based on the 800 MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor with the ultra-low power SGTL5000 audio codec.http://media.freescale.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=196520&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1370004&highlight=&tid=rsspr The 7-inch resistive touchscreen has 1024 x 600 pixel resolution and is upgradeable to a capacitive touchscreen. A 3-Mpixel camera is included. There is a 3-axis digital accelerometer and an ambient light sensor. The operating system is either Android or Linux using 512 MB DDR2 memory and internal storage of 4-64 GB. There will also be a slot for a microSD card. The connectivity is 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, USB 2.0, USB mini (for charging), audio in/out and SIM card for telecommunications service. A 3G modem and RF4CE are optional.

While recognized as having significant computing power, Gizmodo is concerned about the limited user interface and lack of finger-motion capability.http://gizmodo.com/5443114/freescale-tablet-hands-on-this-is-last%2Bgen

Problems with Flash 10.1 player may also be holding up the release of the Freescale Tablet.http://www.telecomtv.com/comspace_newsDetail.aspx?n=46295&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10#comments