Velocity Micro Cruz series eReader tablets

If there’s one type of Android device that it wouldn’t hurt to see more of, it’d be cheap tablets/eReaders. With school starting back up before too long, and the holiday season approaching soon after, Android needs something to compete with other more popular tablet devices like the iPad. The Cruz series isn’t being billed as just for eReading, but instead boasts a multitude of multimedia capabilities, functionality (even for the wee ones), and best of all, it’s going to be available for a great price. Here’s the rundown:

At under one pound and about a half inch thick, the $199, 7” Cruz Reader goes everywhere you do, making it perfect for students, avid readers, frequent flyers, and techies. Additional features such as video playback and web browsing provide a much richer experience than traditional e-ink readers at a more reasonable price than a tablet.

Key specs and features include:

Crystal clear 4:3 ratio, 800×600 full color touch screen display – ideal for viewing ebooks and magazines, plus web pages and movies
Google Android Operating System
802.11b/g wifi and full Web browser support
High res video and high quality audio playback with no proprietary content restrictions
Built-in Dictionary, Notepad, Calendar, Alarm Clock, Contacts, Games, and other useful apps
Built in accelerometer, tilt activated
Enough built in storage for hundreds of books
USB and SD card slot for upgradable storage, including a 2GB SD card
Up to 10 hours of use and over 24 hours of standby time, with a replaceable battery
Access to over 2 Million ebooks via included Borders E-book library portal application
Access to the Cruz Market™, an open content portal for downloading apps, magazines, and videos from a broad array of content providers.

At $299, the Cruz Tablet offers a truly mobile experience at an affordable price, finally giving consumers an Android-based tablet alternative.

Spec and feature upgrades include:

7” 16:9 ratio, 800×480 capacitive display – great for viewing widescreen video
802.11n wifi for faster wireless connectivity
Integrated microphone for voice recording
4GB of built in storage with an 8GB SD card in the box for additional storage of high res photos, video, and music

Rounding out the Cruz line, the $149 Cruz StoryPad packs tons of multimedia features into a kid friendly, drop resistant package, letting children read, learn, and interact using a simple and intuitive touch interface. Features include:

7” 4:3 800×600 full color touch screen display
Simplistic and intuitive navigation
High res video and high quality audio playback
Preinstalled audio book content – reads classic stories as the child follows along
SD card for additional storage
Available in pink, blue, and green

I am extremely excited to get my hands on one of these devices. Look for the Cruz Reader and StoryPad in August, with the Tablet to follow in early September.

Via BGR