HTC Puccini Tablet Launch By Early October Says Exec

The HTC Puccini tablet will launch as soon as late September or early October, according to HTC CFO Winston Yung, though official specifications for the slate are still unclear. Speaking to Chinese paper Liberty Times, DigiTimes reports, Yung gave no new hardware details for the Flyer follow-up, leaked screenshots of which emerged earlier this month.

According to the rumor-mill, however, the Puccini will have a 10.1-inch touchscreen like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Xoom, along with a 1.5GHz processor. However, unlike the Samsung and Motorola slates, the Puccini will also respond to the active stylus launched alongside the Flyer. SlashGear's sources suggest that HTC won't be placing as much emphasis on the stylus as was made around the notepad-like Flyer, but that the pen input will be carried forward not only with the Puccini but tablets the company expects to release in 2012.

FCC approval earlier in the year suggested the Puccini would support AT&T 4G LTE, though it's unclear if the carrier's newly announced $50 for 5GB plan will apply or if there will be a separate tariff. An 8-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash is also expected, thanks to some leaked press shots, plus a front-facing camera. It's possible HTC will unveil the Puccini officially at IFA 2011 in early September.