Texas Instruments Blaze Tablet Available This August
We've had a lot of things to cover when it comes to Texas Instruments' OMAP4, especially when it has anything to do with that Blaze name. From our hands-on time with the previously released OMAP Blaze, which happened twice, to the general overview of the device we provided earlier in the year, it's one of the more exciting pieces of technology out there. And now, Texas Instruments is cramming all of the goodness of that Blaze moniker into, that's right, a tablet!
We just caught wind of the Blaze tablet, which features Texas Instruments' OMAP4. Designed specifically around the Blaze development platform, which in of itself is designed to maximize software compatibility. In the tablet, you can make room for a cellular modem, WLAN, Bluetooth, GPS, and even FM connectivity. They're all reconfigurable, using the same sockets as the Blaze development platform.
The Blaze tablet will also support new features and applications, thanks to the multiple external camera modules, as well as the external DLP pico-projector, which can be given multiple attachments, as well as an extended field of view. Inside, you'll find the OMAP4430 1GHz processor, which should leave you wanting nothing more for quite some time.
As for the tablet itself, you'll get your hands on a 10.4-inch XVGA (1024 x 768) LCD touchscreen display, as well as two USB ports. You can also power the tablet thanks to USB power, if that's what you're into. As for memory, it has 1GB lpDDR2, and 32GB eMMC tucked away inside. And, for the record, this isn't a tablet for the mainstream out there — it's designed for developers, so if the shoe fits, this may be the next tablet you pick up. You can sign up for email newsletter at the site, right here, but hopefully we won't have to wait until the end of August to get our hands on one. In the mean time, check out our video of the hands-on we did have with Blaze.
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Blaze Tablet features
Core Logic
OMAP4430 1GHz application and multimedia processor IC
TWL6030 Phoenix power management IC
TWL6040 Phoenix audio IC
CDC3S04 clock driver IC
Memory
1 GB lpDDR2
32 GB eMMC v4.41
Display
10.4" XGA (1024 x 768) LCD
One (1) standard v1.1a DisplayPort connector
External pico DLP Projector Support
HDMI
User Interface
Projected Capacitance Touch (PCT) sensor
Multi-touch capable touch screen controller
Three (3) tri-color status LEDs used as backlight for "OS" buttons
Two (2) unbalanced mass vibration motors
Buttons and Switches
One (1) recessed, externally operable reset button
One (1) power on/off button
Three (3) front screen "OS" buttons
One (1) "lock" switch
One (1) battery mode switch
Serial Interfaces
One (1) HS USB OTG
Two (2) HS USB host ports
Removable Media
One (1) full size 8-bit SD/MMC external connector
One (1) full size SD/MMC internal connector
One (1) SIM card for modem support
Audio
One (1) 3.5 mm stereo headset jack for audio output and MIC input
Two (2) 1W RMS speakers
Four (4) digital microphones
Expansion
One (1) COM connector for connectivity modules
One (1) full miniPCIe connector for modem modules
Connectivity
WLAN (802.11a/b/g/n) via WL1283 COM7 module
BT via WL1283 COM7 module
GPS via WL1283 COM7 module
FM TX/RX via WL1283 COM7 module
Modem (Wide Area Network) Support
LTE modem support via standard miniPCIe module
3G modem support via standard miniPCIe module
To clarify, only one modem can be used at any given moment
Sensors
3-axis accelerometer
3-axis gyro
Temperature sensor
Ambient light sensor
Proximity sensor
Pressure (barometric) sensor
Digital compass
External Camera modules (optional)
5MP AF camera modules mounted externally on tablet frame
The camera module(s) will be connected to the Blaze via standard HDMI cables
Each OMAP4430 CSI-2 camera interface will have a dedicated HDMI-style connector
Mechanical
The mechanical envelope, is 10.48" (266.094 mm) x 8.28" (210.294 mm) x 1.14" (29 mm)
The frame of Blaze Tablet is aluminum
The frame of the Blaze Tablet will be grooved to allow for external camera module and pico DLP projector attachment
The attachment system will provide flexibility to the pointing angles of the external camera modules and pico DLP projector
Power
Support for USB power
One (1) standard 5V input for wall power
4100 mAHr single-cell LiON Battery
Debug
One (1) 802.3 (wired) Ethernet port (RJ-45 connector)
One (1) MIPI Test and Debug connector
One (1) USB connector which has serial (UART) data
Optional debug LEDs
[via SVTronics; thanks Chris!]