Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) announced a tablet computer that also serves as a control panel for the company's new PhotoSmart eStation C510 all-in-one printer.

The 7-inch tablet is based on the Android operating system and enables web browsing along with customized applications. However, reports indicate that the tablet won't have access to the Android market. Yahoo!, however, is developing widgets and applications around news, sports, finance and weather

HP's idea behind the tablet, which comes bundled with the Photosmart eStation for $400, is to make web or email content highly accessible for printing (aren't we supposed to save paper and think before we print?) and share content between different media devices. HP is developing software and content with 45 partners, including Delta Airlines for printing boarding passes and partnerships related to e-books and coupons.

About 85 percent of smartphone users want to print content, HP says, and according to its own studies, 12 billion pages will be printed from smartphones by 2012.

For more:
- check out this PC World article
- read this ITProPortal article

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