Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks planning kids' tablet launch

The film studio co-founded by Steven Spielberg is developing the DreamTab -- an 8-inch Android tablet for children.

There are already plenty of Android tablets on the market aimed at smaller users, but what will set the DreamTab apart is its pre-loaded content and stylus support.

That pre-loaded content will come in the shape of special DreamWorks apps and the company intends to push out regular updates, be they new characters or new educational tasks based around its existing animated films and programs.

This could prove a huge potential selling point. Don't forget DreamWorks Animation is the home of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.

Although the tablet's main focus will be on entertaining and educating younger users, it will also feature an adult mode in which it can be used like any other well-specified Android tablet.

As well as apps and DreamWorks content, a range of branded accessories, including protective bumper guards and headphones, will also be available when the first tablets go on sale this spring, following their debut at the International CES on January 7.

According to the New York Times, the initial tablet will have an 8-inch screen and will cost less than $300 but a bigger, 12-inch version is also planned.

The devices are being developed in collaboration with Fuhu, a company that specializes in child-focused tablets, such as the Nabi. Interestingly, Fuhu already makes a special Disney version of its nabi 2 tablet which features exclusive content and characters from the film and animation studio.