Graphics tablet maker Wacom takes on the standalone kind of tablet with the Cintiq Companion and Companion Hybrid, a pair of artist-aimed devices running on either Windows 8 or Android.
Both devices share an industrial design familiar to previous Cintiq customers (complete with Rocker Ring and customisable ExpressKeys), and pack 13.3-inch 1920x1080 resolution TFT LCD displays, wifi and Bluetooth connectivity and 8MP rear-/2MP front-facing cameras together with Wacom's mainstay, pen input-- the company claims the devices feature 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity via included Pro Pen stylus.
The Cintiq Companion is the Windows 8-powered number, featuring 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor, 256 or 512GB of storage, 8GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU and a choice of either Windows 8 or 8 Pro as OS.
Meanwhile the Companion Hybrid is an Android tablet designed as a "two-in-one" solution-- one can use it as either a standalone tablet or connect it to PC for a Cintiq replacement.
It carries an Nvidia Tegra 4 CPU, 16 or 32GB of storage and a pre-installed Creative Canvas art app.
And, not to leave out iOS users, Wacom also launches the Intuos Creative Stylus (ICS)-- a pressure sensitive iPad (2 and up) stylus offering 2048 sensitivity levels, palm-rejection technology and compatibility with the Autodesk SketchBook Pro, ArtRage, Bamboo Paper, ProCreate and Psykopaint apps.
The Companion Hybrid tablet should be available sometime during September 2013, while the Companion and ICS will hit the market from October.
