Delay in HTC tablet debut until the second quarter of 2011
In the tech world, there have been recent developments that suggest a close partnership between HTC and Google, despite initial concerns about a potential rift. Contrary to speculations, Google is not prioritizing Motorola for the release of Android 3.0 Gingerbread, and HTC is not a priority partner for Android 3.5 Honeycomb.
HTC, a long-time Google ally, had initially booked a slot for a tablet PC release, planned for the end of 2011 or early 2012. However, the release has been delayed and is now scheduled for the second half of 2011, attributed to a change of support priorities on part of Google.
Sovan Mandal, a tech enthusiast with an interest in the latest developments in technology and gadgets, has been following these developments closely. Mandal, who writes for a specific website, has expressed his thoughts on the delay in HTC's tablet PC release and its absence from the major upcoming Android releases. However, there is no direct evidence of a rift between HTC and Google related to the delays in HTC's tablet release or a Google Android 3.5 Honeycomb partnership.
Instead, recent information from 2025 indicates that HTC and Google appear to be collaborating on extended reality (XR) and AI glasses projects rather than consumer tablets. In early 2025, HTC reached an agreement with Google, transferring part of its VR team personnel and non-exclusive patents to Google for NT$250 million. This deal is seen as a cooperation move rather than a conflict and might lead to further collaborations such as manufacturing outsourcing and dual-brand marketing efforts.
HTC is launching AI glasses supported by Google technologies like Google Gemini and integrating features such as ChatGPT. The launch is coordinated with Taiwan Mobile, focusing on AI glasses rather than tablets, and no mention is made of Android 3.5 Honeycomb or tablet delays as a point of contention.
Google's latest OS development also focuses on Android XR (released in late 2024) designed for VR and AR devices, developed with partners like Samsung and Qualcomm. This shift away from traditional tablets to XR platforms reinforces the close partnership between HTC and Google in the XR and AI sector.
In conclusion, HTC and Google are currently collaborating on VR/AR hardware and software projects, including AI glasses running Google’s Android XR platform, with financial and personnel agreements between them to support this ecosystem expansion. The last major Android tablet-focused update (Honeycomb) is historically from the early 2010s and no longer relevant in the current Google-HTC partnership landscape.
- Sovan Mandal, observing the changes, has noted the shift in focus from tablets to extended reality (XR) and AI projects in the partnership between HTC and Google.
- The recent collaboration between HTC and Google involves the development and launch of AI glasses supported by Google technologies, signifying a move away from traditional tablets in their joint ventures.
