New power in cell phones

I've been predicting that cell phones will become the new laptop, and here's a new model that is leading the way. Popular Mechanics reports from the Consumer Electronics show:

In the tablet free-for-all that promises to characterize 2011, the Motorola Xoom will be a principal challenger to the Apple iPad. 

It hits one cutting-edge mark after another: Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, ample power with a dual-core 1 GHz processor, a GB of RAM, and both front- and rear-facing cameras for video conferencing as well as shooting photos. The screen is big: 10.1 inches with a wide 16:10 aspect and a resolution of 1280 x 800. 

For now, the Xoom is a step ahead of the competition when it comes to connectivity. The first Xooms will launch on Verizon’s 3G network in the first quarter of 2011, and the company promises that those units can be upgraded to the 4G LTE network in the spring. (Units shipping in spring will be on 4G from the start.) And HDMI compatibility means that the Xoom can share its video with a home entertainment center.