An Android tablet that’s a gamepad for under $200.00, will it fly?

Archos’s GamePad: a 7-inch Android 4.0 tablet with gaming controls for less than a Nexus 7

“Android’s addition of native support for hardware gaming controls has lead to a flurry of interest from hardware makers; from controller manufacturers like Nyko to the development of the $99 Ouya gaming console. Tablet maker Archos is the latest company to jump into this market with a new Android 4.0 handheld device called the GamePad, a device whose hardware gaming controls, 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, and low price tag it believes can ‘revolutionize’ Android gaming.

The GamePad will be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and quad-core Mali 400 MP GPU. The product’s real focus is the gaming controls, though, and on that front the GamePad seems to have everything covered: dual analog sticks and, from the look of it, left and right shoulder buttons will be part of the package, in addition to the requisite D-Pad and four face buttons. While we haven’t seen it for ourselves, the 7-inch form factor of Archos’s tablet also seems like a much more manageable size for a handheld gaming device than the 10.1-inch Wikipad, although the controls on the GamePad look like they’re fixed, unlike those on the Wikipad, which are part of a removable gaming grip.

The GamePad will be Google certified, too, says Archos, unlike a lot of similar products from the likes of JXD and others. That means users will have full access to the Play store, as well as Google’s own apps like Gmail, Maps, and Calendar. Archos also says the GamePad will have ‘automatic game recognition and mapping tools,’ which it calls ‘a patented technology that allows any virtual controls to be mapped the GamePad’s physical control buttons.’

So far, Archos is only giving European pricing of ‘less than €150,’ about $188 in US currency, a number that likely doesn’t include the standard 20 percent European VAT. In comparison, the Nexus 7 is selling in Europe for €199, which is significantly higher, even after adjusting for the tax. Getting the GamePad down to such a low price point is an impressive feat given Andy Rubin’s admission that Google makes ‘no margin’ on sales of the device through the Play Store.

Without more information about the display it’s hard to imagine how the GamePad will stack up against other 7-inch tablets on the market, and the value of the bundled controls depends highly on their build quality. The good news is we’ll know how it fares soon enough — Archos says that the GamePad is coming in October.”

So, interesting idea! Someone was bound to come up with this.

GameKlip turns your Android device into a pseudo handheld console

“So you are stuck with playing games like Dead Trigger because it is free on your Android-powered device simply because you flat out refuse to fork out $250 for the PS Vita from Sony, or perhaps slightly less coin for Nintendo’s 3DS? Here we are with a glimpse of hope and salvation for the miserly – the GameKlip accessory which will work to your current Android-powered smartphone, turning it into a pseudo portable gaming machine to boot. No idea on whether this will offer a better control scheme compared to the PS Vita as there is still the touchscreen controls to work through, but at least you have an option here.

The GameKlip will come in a range of custom sizes to cater for the myriad of devices from Samsung and HTC, and you can also choose from wireless and wired versions, with the latter hooking up to your handset via USB. Bear in mind that the wireless version will require you to root your Android-powered smartphone, something that not everyone might be wont to do. Interestingly enough, the wireless version costs $15 while the wired version is more expensive at $23.”