Philips launches Android-based GoGear Connect, targets Apple's iPod Touch

Philips launched its Android 2.1 based device GoGear Connect that allows a user to surf the web, take pictures, watch movies and listen to music at the IFA Berlin show.

The device flaunts preloaded applications including Android Market, Google Talk and Google Maps and runs on Android 2.1 juice.

It has a 3.2-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 920 and weighs 11.5 ounces. It uses a trackball for media player navigation.

It sports 16 GB of internal storage with expandable memory of 32GB with a MicroSD card. It includes a Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth and 2-megapixel camera.

The battery gives a run time of 25 hours for audio and 5 hours for video.

However, the primary caveat in the device is that it uses a resistive touch-screen unlike iTouch which uses capacitive. The product will compete with Apple's iPod Touch.

For Philips it's a step into Apple's dominant market where other competitors have failed, especially Microsoft's Zune. What could really go for Philips is that GoGear Connect is the first iPod-like device which runs on Android.