The Dell Streak, a miniature tablet computer that runs a version of the Google Android smartphone operating system, launches in the UK early next month, followed by releases in the U.S. and the rest of the Europe later in the summer.

Apple broke the dam by launching the iPad, so now we're seeing lots of competing tablets show up. We've known that a Dell tablet has been coming for some months now.

These devices should be easier to use on the go in your busy lifestyle than laptops with keyboards — in theory, anyway. The Streak will run Android 2.2 later this year, and with that upgrade will come Adobe Flash 10.1 support.

Features and Specs

The device has a 5-inch screen with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, and Dell has modified Android to take advantage of the additional screen space. For example, the notifications tray displays types of notifications that don't show up on most Android smartphones.

The Streak can be used to surf the web, run Android apps, play music and videos and make phone calls, though it's quite a bit larger than most phones. You don't have to hold it up to your ear, though; you can use a 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth to connect a headset.

Other features include multi-touch (pinch-to-zoom is supported), GPS, 3G, Wi-Fi, a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, a 5-megapixel camera and a VGA front-facing camera for video chat functionality "down the road." Up to 32 GB of storage is supported.

Demonstration Video

Here's a video demonstration straight from Dell. Unfortunately, it doesn't radiate either hipness or accessibility. Dell will have to roll out some better marketing in the future if it wants this device to find mainstream success.







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