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As the post-Consumer Electronics Show jockeying for competitive positioning against Apple’s iPad tablet shapes up, Motorola’s new Xoom tablet is being eyed as a possible contender. New reports indicate that the Xoom will launch Feb. 17 at a price between $700 and $800 for a 32GB model. This compares to the $729 price for the iPad 3G 32GB. Motorola has indicated that Xoom tablets will have 3G connectivity.

The Xoom, with a 10.1-inch 1280×800 multi-touch screen, has a variety of strengths as it steps into the ring. It’s the first tablet to be based on Google’s tablet-optimized version of Android, the 3.0 Honeycomb, and it contains a two-gigahertz dual-core processor. It will also be distributed by Verizon Wireless,. A model that will run on Verizon’s growing 4G LTE network is expected in the second quarter.

Xoom Apps?

There’s support for 1080p HD, including the ability to operate as a HD camcorder, Adobe Flash 10.1, and battery life that Motorola says is up to 10 hours. A front-facing two-megapixel camera is available for video chatting, and a rear-facing five-megapixel camera has a dual LED flash.

A built-in accelerometer and gyroscope are available for games and apps, Google maps and GPS are included, and a maps app has 3-D renderings of buildings when zoomed. According to news reports, the e-reader looks similar to the one offered in the iPad.

In terms of post-CES attention, Motorola’s Xoom, Research In Motion’s Playbook, and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab have been leaders. Motorola stoked interest in its tablet before CES with a video promo that positioned the then-unseen device, draped for unveiling on a pedestal, as the latest in the evolution of tablets that began with the Ten Commandments.

But aside from specs and price comparisons, a key measure of any prospective iPad challenger is the apps. Apple, which just announced the… Read more

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