Asus: Transformer Prime Will Launch with Honeycomb

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Asus' new Transformer will have to make do with Honeycomb for now.

Just a day or so after Google and Samsung unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich, Asus unveiled the follow-on to its Eee Pad Transformer tablet. Dubbed the Eee Pad Transformer Prime, many assumed that the quad-core tablet would come with Ice Cream Sandwich. After all, in the months and weeks leading up to its announcement, the Galaxy Nexus was nicknamed the Galaxy Prime. Surely this beast of a tablet would pack Ice Cream Sandwich? Asus boss Jonney Shih didn't specify when he showed the device off at AsiaD: All Things Digital earlier this month. However, we now know that the tablet with keyboard dock won't be running Android 4.0, at least not at first.

Engadget points to a post on Asus' German Facebook page that assures fans that, though the Eee Pad Transformer, Eee Pad Slider, and upcoming Eee Pad Transformer Prime will be getting Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, the company's doesn't yet know when because a release date for the OS has not been confirmed. The Eee Pad Transformer Prime is supposed to launch on November 9, so it's not surprising that it won't be packing ICS when it does. After all, we still don't know when the Galaxy Nexus is launching and it's supposed to be the first ICS device. As usual, we'll keep you posted.

Jane McEntegart
21 Comments Comment from the forums
  • house70
    It's OK, still a great tablet, and ASUS released OS upgrades pretty soon for their previous devices...
    And, for those that want to take it a step further, there is always xda-devs.
    Reply
  • kenyee
    hope they made the screen less shiny...the reflective screen made it look terrible next to a Thrive or Galaxy Tab...
    Reply
  • eloplayspolo
    otacon72Windows 8 tablet + docking station w/keyboard = RIP Android based tablets, netbooks, notebooks, etc etc. iPads will always because around because of the iSheep but the only thing Android will be running on is phones once Windows 8 comes out. What's the point? I want to run a real OS and real software not just carry around an oversized Droid. I guess you could say the iPad is an oversized iTouch but with Apple's marketing they could but shit on a shingle, call it the iCrap and it would sell millions.

    #1 Any knowledgeable technically savvy individual with disagree with just about everything you said.

    #2 The quality of an Apple product is unsurpassed by ANY company

    #3 Android is an AMAZING operating system and there are more companies backing it than any other OS on mobile devices.

    #4 Don't post here when you have no facts and when you use terms like "iCrap", you are ignorant and your opinion is "Crap".

    #5 "iPads will always because around because of the iSheep" --- Drugs and alcohol don't mix well when making posts....
    Reply
  • eloplayspolo
    double post :(
    Reply
  • istank
    eloplayspolodouble post
    Its ok, at least your post was logical and made complete sense. I would gladly read it twice before reading otacon72's post again.
    Reply
  • Google really should get the device makers to hold off a month and sync release of new high end hardware with the OS update and advertise it as such. Here you have a wonderfully designed new tablet with a new quad core SOC architecture and it would have been the perfect thing for Google to launch 4.0 on and advertise the hell out of the platform with it.
    Reply
  • bender3000
    eloplayspolo#2 The quality of an Apple product is unsurpassed by ANY company#3 Does anyone else find this statement a tad subjective?
    Reply
  • dionye
    eloplayspolo#1 Any knowledgeable technically savvy individual with disagree with just about everything you said.#2 The quality of an Apple product is unsurpassed by ANY company#3 Android is an AMAZING operating system and there are more companies backing it than any other OS on mobile devices.#4 Don't post here when you have no facts and when you use terms like "iCrap", you are ignorant and your opinion is "Crap".#5 "iPads will always because around because of the iSheep" --- Drugs and alcohol don't mix well when making posts....
    as an android fanboy I think it is my obligation to join this fanboy conversation.

    @otacon72 - win8 might have all the "real software", but tablet is a consuming device where most of the "real software" don't fit well. why buy a less powerful tablet for the same price or more if you need that keyboard attach to it all the time?

    @eloplayspolo
    #1 I will not say win8 is total out yet. they will have to fight the same fight wp7 fight. but with MS kind of money backing it, it will have at least a foothold.

    #2 not the case as seem in this video and this
    #3 as an android fanboy I am obligated to agree with you here

    #4 anything apple is over price, under power. they got nice looking device yes, but their form over function way (i.e. "you are holding it wrong") is just not what people who wanted work done go by.

    #5 see ad hominem fallacy
    Reply
  • WR2
    Disappointing news.
    And it would have been nice if they had confirmed it would take an ICS upgrade.
    Reply
  • Parsian
    I just wished, they would come out with an WACOM version as well. I am desperately looking for a WACOM tablet that can also be attached to a keyboard. Lenovo has one, but its only Tegra 2 and as far as I know, now keyboard attachment option.

    The reason I am not looking into a Lenovo tablet PC is because of the weight, and price. Current LENOVO tablet which uses Android 3.1 has a good battery life but i think it would be under powered for Windows 8 dual boot.
    Reply