updated 09:15 pm EDT, Sun July 10, 2011
Lenovo IdeaPad U1 finally at FCC
Lenovo's often-delayed IdeaPad U1 is nearing a launch after it reached the FCC through an approval filing. The Android- and Windows-based hybrid tablet and netbook combo should now be cleared for sale in the US when ready. Few details are inside about the tablet itself, which uses Android with Lenovo's custom interface and a 1.3GHz Snapdragon processor inside.
Clues do, however, exist as to a possible ship date. A confidentiality letter attached to the filing has an unusually specific end date on secrets of November 22. Most such filings only give a vague openness date a fixed number of days from whenever the filing is submitted. Lenovo won't necessarily release the U1 on November 22 but could be basing its release schedule around that point in time.
Lenovo had shown the U1 as early as January of 2010 but was derailed after it saw the iPad. The move eventually led it to rework the tablet side to use Android instead of a custom Linux OS. Such delays have gotten to the point where sequel tablets like the IdeaPad K1 should now be shipping even before the U1. [via Engadget]