LG Says Android Tablet Due out in Q4

LG Electronics plans to launch its first tablet device in the fourth quarter, running Google's Android mobile software, it said Thursday.The company had already said it would debut the product this year, but had not said when. The fourth quarter doesn't narrow the time-frame by much, but it does say the device won't be ready in the next few months.The company said its tablet will be part of its Optimus Series of smartphones and tablet devices. LG, one of South Korea's largest electronics makers, has already unveiled three Optimus smartphones, including the Optimus Z, which uses Android version 2.1 and a 1GHz Qualcomm SnapDragon chipset. The Optimus Z hit the South Korean market on Thursday, the company said.A number of electronics companies have shown off or announced tablet devices they intend to launch this year to compete with Apple's popular iPad. A few of the tablet devices shown off at the Computex Taipei electronics show in June used Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system, while others had Android installed.APPLE INC ASUS ASUSTEK COMPUTER