The PineTab2 Is a New Linux Tablet, Coming in 2023 (UPDATED)
Pine64 is a technology company behind many Linux and ARM projects, such as the Linux-powered PinePhone. Today the group revealed a new tablet with desktop Linux: the PineTab2.
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Pine64 went back to the drawing board, and created an updated model, dubbed the PineTab2. It’s still an ARM-powered laptop with a detachable keyboard, built with easy repairs and open software in mind, but nearly everything has been upgraded. It will use a newer Rockchip RK3566 SoC, with a quad-core Cortex-A55 processor, a Mali-G52 M2 CPU, and support for up to 8 GB RAM. Pine64 says the Linux kernel now supports “nearly all core functionality of the chipset.”
The PineTab2 will have a metal chassis, designed to be opened easily for repairs and modifications. Pine64 said, “most parts are easy to reach and replace in a matter of minutes — the camera modules, the daughter-board, the battery and USB keyboard connector can all be replaced in under 5 minutes.” The screen will be a 10.1-inch IPS display, and along the side will be two USB Type-C ports (one USB 3.0, the other for charging with USB 2.0), a headphone jack, microSD card slot, and micro HDMI. There’s also a 2 MP camera on the front and 5 MP lens on the back, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will be available. The keyboard case will be included with all models.
Pine64 noted that the final specs may change, and there’s no firm release date for pricing yet. The company said, “we’re currently hoping to bring the PineTab2 to the market sometime after the Chinese New Year, but it is too early to offer a firm date yet. A price point for either of the variants hasn’t been settled on yet either but I can promise that it will be affordable regardless of which version you’ll settle on.”
UPDATE
Liliputing:
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Pine64’s PineTab2 will be a Linux-friendly tablet with an RK3566 processor - Liliputing
Pine64 has been producing affordable Linux-friendly laptops, smartphones, and single-board computer for a few years. And now the company is getting ready to launch a Linux-friendly tablet… again.
The PineTab2 will be a 10.1 inch tablet with a Rockchip RK3566 quad-core ARM Cortex-a55 processor, support for up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and a modular, repairable design. Like most Pine64 hardware, it’s designed to be cheap hardware for Linux developers and enthusiasts who want to flash their choice of operating systems. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but Pine64 says it will begin sending units to developers in the coming month and hopes to begin selling the PineTab2 after Chinese New Year (which means you may be able to pick one up in February, 2023 or later).
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Pine64 announces PineTab2 Linux tablet powered by Rockchip RK3566 - NotebookCheck.net News
Pine64 is well-known for making affordable open-source gadgets and devices. Today, the company announced its latest device, the PineTab2.
As the name implies, the PineTab2 is a tablet. Like all of Pine64's devices, it will run Linux and will likely support a variety of Linux distros. The tablet will feature a 10.1-inch IPS touchscreen with a currently unknown resolution housed in a metal frame. Pine64 has selected the Rockchip RK3566 SoC to power the tablet. Pine64 previously used this chip in their Quartz64 Model B single-board computer, and the silicon has been featured in a variety of other small gadgets.
Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft):
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PineTab2 Linux tablet to feature Rockchip RK3566 SoC, up to 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC flash - CNX Software
The PineTab2 is an upcoming 10.1-inch Linux tablet based on the 1.8 GHz Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor and equipped with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash.
The new model is a clear step-up compared to the Allwinner A64-based PineTab which did not survive the supply shortage and has also gone through a complete physical redesign with a modular metal chassis that is easy to disassemble for upgrades and change parts such as the eMMC module, camera module, battery, or even the display.
Linux Gizmos:
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PineTab2 powered by Rockchip RK3566 SoC
Pine64 revealed today some details about the successor of the original PineTab released in 2020. The PineTab2 is featured in a metal chassis powered by a 2.0GHz Rockchip RK3566 SoC in addition to a detachable keyboard, dual cameras and other peripherals.
Ars Technica:
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PineTab 2 is another try at a Linux-based tablet, without the 2020 supply crunch
Pine64, makers of ARM-based, tinker-friendly gadgets, is making the PineTab 2, a sequel to its Linux-powered tablet that mostly got swallowed up by the pandemic and its dire global manufacturing shortages.
The PineTab 2, as described in Pine64's "December Update," is based around the RK3566, made by RockChip. Pine64 based its Quartz64 single-board system on the system-on-a-chip (SoC), and has all but gushed about it across several blog posts. It's "a dream-of-a-SoC," writes Community Director Lukasz Erecinski, a "modern mid-range quad-core Cortex-A55 processor that integrates a Mali-G52 MP2 GPU. And it should be ideal for space-constrained devices: it runs cool, has a variety of I/O options, solid price-to-performance ratio, and "is genuinely future-proof." While Linux support was scarce early on, development for RK3566 is "booming," and it's now a prime candidate for mobile operating systems, Erecinski writes.
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PineTab 2 Is Another Try At a Linux-Based Tablet, Without the 2020 Supply Crunch - Slashdot
Pine64, makers of ARM-based, tinker-friendly gadgets, is making the PineTab 2, a sequel to its Linux-powered tablet that mostly got swallowed up by the pandemic and its dire global manufacturing shortages. The PineTab 2, as described in Pine64's "December Update," is based around the RK3566, made by RockChip. Pine64 based its Quartz64 single-board system on the system-on-a-chip (SoC), and has all but gushed about it across several blog posts. It's "a dream-of-a-SoC," writes Community Director Lukasz Erecinski, a "modern mid-range quad-core Cortex-A55 processor that integrates a Mali-G52 MP2 GPU. And it should be ideal for space-constrained devices: it runs cool, has a variety of I/O options, solid price-to-performance ratio, and "is genuinely future-proof."
Another one (late):
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Linux...on a tablet? It might just work | TechRadar
Aimed at hardware prosumers, the next-generation PineTab will be powered by the RK3566 system-on-a-chip (SoC), which the company claims will benefit a tablet due to low power consumption and heat output. It will sport two USB-C ports, a micro HDMI port, a microSD slot, a headphone jack, and two cameras.
The announcement led Pine64’s “December Update” video (opens in new tab) and accompanying blog post (opens in new tab), in which it stated that the original PineTab fell victim to pandemic component shortages, and “other project priorities”, such as its Linux-based smartphone, the PinePhone.
One more (late):
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The PineTab2 is a new, faster Linux tablet - and it's not alone
The PineTab2 is a new, faster Linux tablet - and it's not alone In their December update, Pine64 announced the PineTab2, which is the successor to their PineTab from 2018. As a major change, the PineTab2 upgrades the slow A53-based A64 SoC with an A55-based Rockchip RK3566, the same chip that was used for the Quartz64, and that helped to mainline this chip and base board.
This new SoC should provide more speed and better power management, and according to some Android benchmarks, its performance should be comparable to that of a Snapdragon 450 chipset. Although this is a far cry from the RK3399 chipset in some of PINE64's "pro" line (PinePhone/PineBook Pro), it is still faster than the PineTab's A64, and comes with a far better GPU (Mali G52) thanks to being much more recent (2020 vs. 2015).
Even later:
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Another Attempt at a Linux Tablet is in the Works - Linux Magazine
Pine64 is working on a PineTab2, which will be the successor to the original Linux-powered tablet PineTab.
When Pine64 attempted to release the first PineTab, back in 2019, they ran into supply chain issues (and the rising popularity of their phones) that made the project impossible to complete.
Since then, Pine64 is now confident they can overcome the issues and finally deliver a Linux-based tablet, called the PineTab2.
The new version of the PineTab is benefiting from improved specs from the original, including a Rockchip RK3565 processor and a Mali-G52 GPU.
The Rockchip is a curious option, as it originally didn't have much in the way of Linux support. Fortunately, Linux support for the chip has blossomed, so the PineTab2 shouldn't have any problems.
By Microsoft boosters now:
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Linux-based tablets: Pine64 says its PineTab 2 tablet is a 'complete' redesign | ZDNET
Pine64 has announced it is making the Linux-based PineTab 2, which is the successor to the original PineTab that didn't make it through the post-pandemic chip shortage.
Pine64, which makes numerous developer-friendly pieces of kit, is billing the PineTab 2 as much more than just a specifications upgrade due to its new design, including a metal chassis that has two "snap-tabs" for easily releasing the back to access internals for repairs and upgrades.
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Pine64 Announce a PineTab 2 is Coming Next Year - OMG! Linux
If you’ve been pining (heh) for a souped-up, super-fast Linux tablet running on open source software, Pine64 have you covered.
Today, Pine64 announced the PineTab2 – a successor to its original PineTab Linux tablet released in 2018.
Not that many people were able to buy the PineTab. Major supply chain disruptions owing to the pandemic (and the ensuring knock-on effects thereof) made it nigh-on-impossible for Pine64 to source the components and manufacturing slots needed to produce it.
But forget all that; that’s old news.