Sharp Electronics is entering the tablet fray by introducing the Galapagos e-media tablet and cloud-based bookstore. Both products will launch in the US  in the second half of this year, having already debuted in Japan.

Exact specifications including its OS and screen size as well as price point have yet to be nailed down, but it will feature a 16:9 touch screen LCD and Wi-Fi capability, with 3G not ruled out. Content including periodicals, books and movies will be formatted in Sharp’s proprietary XDMF, which automatically adjusts content to the size of the screen.

According to John Herrington, president of Sharp North America, Sharp will extend XDMF to its smartphones and connected TVs “so users can seamlessly port content from one device to another most convenient to them.”

The company also intends to build on its market lead in large screen LCD TVs by launching no less than five new 70-inch TVs in its Aquos range. All feature the firm’s Quattron Quad Pixel technology, announced at CES 2010 which adds yellow to the conventional RGB spectrum, and built-in Wi-Fi. Content partners for its connected TVs include Facebook, Twitter and Flickr, with movies streamed from Vudu, Netflix and CinemaNow.

“We want these displays to be that trophy TV that consumers will want to bring friends and family around to watch,” said Herrington. “By making bigger ‘better’ we are poised to own the large screen TV market.”

LCD is the cornerstone of Sharp’s engineering. Showcasing this, a videocube comprised of 64 x 60-inch LCD displays is featured on the show floor. Sharp said it is in discussions with Universal Studios about installing a similar videocube at one of its theme parks.