Lenovo IdeaPad A1 gets CyanogenMod, potential for Ice Cream Sandwich
The Lenovo IdeaPad A1, while less popular than the Kindle Fire, is nevertheless a great option for those looking for an Android tablet on the cheap. In fact, it ships with a much more stock build of Android including the Market, giving it a slight initial advantage over the Fire.
That advantage was quickly removed by the development community around the Fire, who rapidly produced an almost working Ice Cream Sandwich ROM for the Tablet. Fortunately, even though it took a little longer, the IdeaPad A1 is also getting some love from developers.
Just today, an XDA member announced that a build of CyanogenMod 7, based on Android Gingerbread, was almost ready for the device. It is still very much a work in progress, but still a great sign. If the A1 can become an official CyanogenMod device, it will get Ice Cream Sandwich when CyanogenMod 9 is released later this year.
Even though it hasn't gotten much publicity for some reason, as far as I've seen the Lenovo A1 looks like a great tablet. I actually saw it on sale today for $167, and if it hadn't been sold out I would have bought it. That's cheaper than the Kindle Fire, and other than the single-core processor, the specs are nearly identical, and the A1 even has two cameras.
I've spent some time with the Kindle Fire (and the review is coming soon), but at this point I am seriously considering returning it for the A1. An Cyanogenmod/Ice Cream Sandwich tablet for $170? Count me in.
[xda-developers]
Yeah well for that price range, I think it is a decent deal, but a bit more detailed info about the hardware and the software would be nice!!!!!
Try the Lenovo Ideapad A1 link to find the rest of the specs.
I have the lenovoa1tablet. Great device. I highly suggest it.
I am considering this as an eBook reader. Seems adequately powered for reading eBooks and Basic Multimedia.
It should be, but if you want to wait a bit Ill probably purchase one and do a review in the near future.