We tried for a few days the new super phone from Samsung. Here are our impressions after a very busy weekend with Galaxy Nexus.

Samsung and Google working together again after the first Nexus S, for the construction of another part of the family of Android for developers and all those who love Google Experience a cell phone, or free interfaces and customizations from the manufacturer.

The appearance of Galaxy Nexus is very special and incorporates some features of Nexus S, as the display curved and S2 Galaxy, as the plastic back cover.

The main feature of this smart phone is 4.65 inches wide screen display that boasts brilliant color and brightness of the first class. The panel uses technology Super Amoled HD Samsung and offers a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. In addition to the display on the front are light and proximity sensors, the front facing camera for vide chiamate and a notification LED on the bottom. Lacking physical buttons for controlling Android, here in version 4.0, replaced by virtual buttons that appear and disappear from the screen depending on the context in which you are located.

On the sides you will find the volume rocker, power button on and off and 3-pin for connection to a docking station, below the micro USB port and input for headphones 3.5 mm. Wireless connectivity is provided by WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and HSPA handset.

The back cover is made of very thin and flexible plastic. Thanks to the textures used reduces the risk of slipping from the hands Nexus Galaxy. Inside a battery of 1,750 mAh and space for the SIM card. Lacks expansion slot micro SD, memory is the only one on the edge of the cell, equal to 16 GB.

The main camera of this terminal has a maximum resolution of 5 megapixels and can record video in full HD 1080p at 30 frames per second.

The hardware inside is built around the chip from Texas Instrument OMAP 4460 that boasts a dual core processor 1.2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and video card games SGX540.For comparison, the score of 41.6 is GL Benchmark fps at a resolution of 720p, while the Galaxy S2 is able to achieve 57 fps with a resolution of 800 × 480 pixels.

4 Android – Ice Cream Sandwich

As mentioned earlier the real news of Samsung Galaxy Nexus for the operating system: Android 4.

Create Sandwich Ice, this is his name, in fact, the Revolution’s interface operating system from Google and introduces several innovations such as the presence of virtual keys to access menus and functions, and better support for multitasking.

Salsa is one of the two HTC Android smartphones dedicated to Facebook, presented last MWC. In fact, both devices include a dedicated Facebook button that will allow us to share our lives with one click.

HTC Salsa was presented in February with his smartphone “brother” HTC ChaCha, the difference is that the sauce has a full touch screen 3.4 “while the HTC ChaCha has opted for the QWERTY keyboard and a touch smaller than 2 , 6 “.

Phone hardware Facebook

In addition to the Facebook button placed below the classical pulsed “back”, the HTC Salsa is enclosed in a unibody aluminum body, its dimensions are 109.1 x 58.9 x 12.3 mm and weighs 120 grams, also the quality of construction can certainly be compared to that of HTC superphone Sensation (after all, both smartphones must meet the quality standards of HTC).

The display is a 3.4-inch capacitive touch screen, resolution is 480 x 320, on the lower right side are the dedicated button for camera, volume rocker is located in the upper left and on the same side, a little more the bottom is the micro USB connector, and finally, on display at the front of the device, as we mentioned earlier, there is a button dedicated to Facebook.

Inside we find a HTC Salsa 800 MHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and 512MB of ROM, the HSPA / WCDMA 900/2100 and quad GSM / EDGE, WiFi b / g / n and Bluetooth 3.0. We also support A2DP Bluetooth audio connections, and there are plenty of “optional” now standard on all phones such as the G-Sensor, digital compass and proximity sensors and light. The display has a WVGA which is actually lower than that of high-end smartphones, but it is perfectly in line with the rest of the mid-range mobile phones currently on the market.

The rear camera is 5 megapixels, the photos are good and the video resolution 720 × 480 are definitely decent for sharing on facebook, the front camera is a simple VGA. The battery is huge, from 1520 mAh well as that of Sensation, in practice with a medium-high cell phone use can last two days … truly amazing!

HTC Sauce Software Overview

This device is equipped with the Android OS 2.3.3 Gingerbread with a modified version of HTC Sense for better integration with Facebook. This version of the Sense is not the new 3.0 as nell’HTC Flyer and Sensation, but with several new items created specifically for Facebook. The Active lockscreen with the four shortcut keys, as in Sense 3.0, is present, but not many animations, as time and updates FriendStream. These limits are coming, almost certainly, from the lower processor speed.

Integration with Facebook

The Facebook button is there, is very prominent and there you will find it always in front unless you cover it with a large piece of adhesive tape. In fact the button is so prominent and visible that it will be difficult not pressed. The fundamental differences with the HTC Sense software includes a basic change in the clock widget on the home that here presents the status updates of Facebook friends instead of the weather, FriendStream still exists along with a small widget, but have added a chat widget Facebook, so you can chat on Facebook in a much simpler way.

Conclusions

Salsa is a good phone HTC Android midrange, integration with Facebook makes it appealing to a niche of users who can not help but stay in touch with friends. Furthermore, its features, including the single microphone and high battery, making it more suitable for use “Internet” and as a phone. The price of HTC Salsa is approximately between 350 € and 360 €.

Nothing was said about the Acer Iconia A100 or better if they have not spoken much to be an Acer. Perhaps the fault of Acer was to have had a little ‘rush to release this tablet and as the saying goes, the cat made hasty blind children.

Of blindness in fact this is when it comes to the viewing angle of this tablet. Just awful. It is horrible because it loses a bit of detail that even if not acceptable in my opinion, would have been understandable considering the price  around 260 €.

In this case, however, we are talking about total loss of color, which is amazing when you think that behind its 7-inch screen, multi-touch with 1024 × 600 pixels, there is a processor NVidia Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz and 512 MB of RAM.

The only way that the Tegra 2 is the game for mobile and where does all this power if when the tablet around to steer my car in the race no longer see the edges of the road?

Leaving aside the screen if you have not yet decided to move on Acer Iconia Tab A100 has 8GB of internal memory expandable with micro SD, not bad words. The advantage lies in its ports, a micro USB, a micro HDMI and a proprietary charger.

The camera on the back is 5MP but no front camera which is crazy. On a tablet is much more useful for a front camera a video camera on the back. No 3G, no GPS, the only way to connect to the outside world in short is the WiFi.
Finally, the sense of touch. Unpleasant as that of a cheap tablet. 4 tablet of money around it are many and with much better features of the Icon A100. So I wonder: what is waiting for Acer to sell this product now that can still recover some money?

Oh yeah there’s Honeycomb Android, but with the effect coming Ice Cream WoW starts to decrease a lot.

HARDWARE DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT

As we said weight and dimensions are even lower than the already sensational iPad2: The Galaxy Tab 10.1 weighs only 565 grams and is very thin: just 8.6 mm. Just about the weight, although a few grams, the Galaxy Tab makes a difference, making it slightly easier to handle and comfortable to use. A tendency to reduce the weight in these devices, which will hopefully be maintained: it is meant to be used without substantially static support, is a feature of fundamental importance for the quality of the experience of use. The network connection is provided by a 3G HSPA + module up to 21 Mb per second, Wi-Fi b / g / n, Bluetooth 2.1 over the GPS chip for the inevitable. The display is a 10.1-inch LCD panel resolution of 1280×800 pixels (a density of about 146 pixels per inch), the quality is excellent, by definition, colors and viewing angles. We noticed some phenomenon of light bleeding around the edges, but it shows only when the device is completely black screen.Certainly the problem is much less clear than many iPad2 seen on the first wave, many users probably do not even notice it.

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS

The design differs radically from that futuristic-chic iPad2 and its anodized aluminum body. The materials are all plastic, a silver frame running along the edges closing the screen, and the back of the tablet, which is also a large area of plastic and shiny white interrupted by a silver border, contains the camera and flash back Led. The end result is very nice and simple, accomplices also very small. Perhaps less elegant and impactful than the Apple tablet, but certainly less prone to scratches on the back. In addition, the plastic has a much better grip than aluminum and has certainly helped reduce the overall weight. Along the top are buttons for power, volume, audio input jacks and access to the phone module to insert the SIM card. On the sides there are two holes for the speakers, while the bottom is the only gateway to data, which also allows the device to reload. The bad news is that this is not an input usb or mini usb, but a Samsung proprietary format.

The most observant of our readers will be surprised: the compatibility with the USB ports (both normal and mini) and the presence of an SD reader or even an HDMI output, is one of the advantages that usually the tablet with Android OS are compared with iPad.Samsung in this case, perhaps because of space or to save, was unwilling or able to take advantage of these advanced features, leaving a little ‘disoriented. And ‘especially the use of a proprietary connector to make us turn up our noses: Samsung in this case a copy of Apple’s most odious trade policies, to sell and produce exclusively (at least the first time) this device to external devices.

CAMERAS

The two cameras, one front (1.2 megapixels) and rear (3 megapixels) are of good quality.In particular the rear produces pictures defined, without too many tricks, and is fully usable in situations of “emergency.” Footage recorded at 720p are perhaps the best aspect of the photographic form. The good results in this field marks the only point in favor of the hardware than iPad 2, whose cameras are nothing short of despicable quality. In any case, beyond a few photos or video situation “desperate” is not very simple to use a tablet for this purpose, also the use for which it is to think of the video.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is a terminal in the gap for several months. Although no longer young, its features make it still unbeaten in today’s mobile devices. A Sony Ericsson credited with having tried to offer something new, creating a terminal that performs the functions of a smartphone and a handheld console.

A distinctive feature of the smartphone is undoubtedly dedicated to gaming controller, similar to the one built into a PlayStation joypad. The integration of a real physical controller takes the user experience in gaming to levels unknown to all the touch-screen smartphone.

Before going into the review, we leave to our usual hands-on, which already puts out in the end the true “killer app” of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play: the ability to manage games Android optimized for its controller, the old PlayStation and those available through the various emulators available in the Android Market

The front end recalls the design of Xperia smartphones of recent production. In the lower part are four physical buttons (back, home, menu and search). The rear emphasizes the 5MP camera and the shiny plastic finish.

The finishes are well cared for. The usual Sony Ericsson logo embossed and embedded in the body is a little quirk to which the Swedish-manufacturer nippo waiver. The contents of the package does not deviate from the mean and includes a headset, data cable and charger, in addition to the manuals. We then find the card 8GB micro SD card already inserted into your smartphone

By sliding the slide mechanism we do not find the classic QWERTY keyboard, but a dedicated controller for gaming, virtually identical to the PlayStation, except for the two analog pads.

Technical

You can view the technical details of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play here.

Construction

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is well built but using only plastic materials. Some crunch in the back cover is not lacking, but overall the terminal transmits a sense of solidity. The slide mechanism has appeared robust and reliable even after several weeks of use.

The back cover of glossy plastic, unfortunately, capture fingerprints after a few minutes of use, while the glass protecting the display is not a Gorilla Glass (it is advisable to use a protective film).

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play in gaming set-up: the best position to exploit it to its full potential

The smartphone space has above average and the weight is not negligible (more than 170 grams). Use one-handed is not prohibitive despite the thickness and width are not particularly low. The design dell’Xperia Play is optimized for use with both hands and with the slide open. In gaming set-up, in fact, the device offers the best in you and makes you forget weight and size.

Display

Contrary to the recent production of Sony Ericsson, the display does not use dell’Xperia Play Bravia technology that improves the quality of images and video. The end result is good in spite of the absence. The display is 4 “with a resolution of 800×480 pixels and uses proven LCD technology.

The screen does not shine in the absolute maximum brightness and viewing angle, neither for the brilliance of color, but does its duty during the execution of the games.

The readability is aided by the reduced outer space between the LCD panel and glass exterior.
In external display legibility is never compromised at all

The touch interface multi touch recognized up to four touches at once and always seemed ready to go along with our input.

Reactivity

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Qualcomm Snapdragon platform uses the proven second-generation single-core processor with 1 GHz and Adreno 205 graphics accelerator. The benchmark results are perfectly aligned with those of other smartphones that use similar hardware. The Quadrant is equal to score 1671 points, while the test chart is Nenamark record 58.4 FPS.

In everyday use the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has proved one of the best Android smartphone we’ve tested, thanks to the optimization software developed without flaws. In our opinion, the gap in performance with dual-core processor terminals, currently, is negligible. The hardware also has been a bottleneck for the execution of all the games we tested
The smartphone comes with 512 MB of RAM, a quantity sufficient to handle multiple tasks simultaneously without significant performance degradation.

The sensors integrated in the smartphone worked without problems. We did not like the inability to turn off the light sensor.

User Interface

The UI of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is in line with that seen in the recent line of Xperia smartphones. We believe it is an interface “light” that brings the right improvements to the standard of Android without weighing over due on system resources.

The reactivity of the interface is excellent, as are the excellent customization options, thanks to the various themes and widgets pre-installed by the manufacturer.
The home is similar to that seen on smartphones Xperia recently produced. Do not miss custom widgets like the one that allows quick access to the PlayStation section. On the right the lock screen
Very nice animation of widgets that you enable “pinching” the screen. The widgets will begin to “float” on the screen and you can select the home in which they are content with a simple tap on them. A movement of the accelerometer blend them further.

The screen at right shows the main menu. In our example there are some extra icons being a model TIM branded. The branding in each case is reduced to a few elements (some apps)
Do not miss Timescape, the SE custom app that brings together all the accounts of social networks and mail, messages, etc.. Compared to the previous line Xperia, Timescape runs so much smoother
Sliding the slide will automatically advance to the section dedicated to games optimized for Xperia Play. These are securities that are already present in the Android Market developed to support controllers Xperia Play. Another section is that of PlayStation games which includes the old glories of the past (pre-installed are Bandicot Crash)

Input devices

The touch screen is the only input device for carrying out all the different gaming activities.The responsiveness of touch, as anticipated, it is good and the layout of the virtual keyboard are sufficient to meet all the requirements:

The real added value of Xperia Play emerges as soon as you slide the slide mechanism under which we find:

1 Pad
4 physical buttons (cross, circle, square, triangle) clearly inspired by the PlayStation controller
2 analog pad
1 and 2 button menu button “select” and “start”
They must then be added using the “L” and “R” placed on the right edge of the smartphone.

The quality of the controller is a high level and does not regret what the PlayStation or PSP. The “click” key-pad is only marginally a little ‘less’ soft’, but the overall performance is excellent.

Connectivity

The park is near the top connectivity. No shortage of Bluetooth and WiFi, the ability to leverage the Internet tethering via USB and turn your smartphone into a WiFi hotspot.

Unfortunately lacks an HDMI connection. On a device like the Xperia Play in our absence is rather serious because it precludes the possibility of exploiting the excellent game controller and the vast range of software on an external monitor.
The park includes connections not only the HDMI connector. An absence rather serious for a terminal as the Xperia Play

Telephone functions and messaging

The reception quality does not lend open to criticism, but the sound quality to hit us even more clearly. Especially the hands-free audio quality is above average. It’s all done in a pair of speakers placed along the left edge of the smartphones that offer excellent listening quality even when playing music and games.

The applications of SMS and e-mail received cosmetic retouching of Android compared to native applications. Traits characterized include: color themes, organizing emails into conversations and e-mail client that offers a preview of the single mail, allowing you to view both the list of all email.

Browser

The performance of the browser are good. The latest dual-core smartphone offering a little ‘longer-starting on the ground of speed performance as well, but the Xperia Play, even with the large 4 “display and high resolution turns out to be also suitable for internet browsing.

Like all recent high-end Android smartphone Sony Ericsson Xperia Play properly handle Flash content.

Camera

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is equipped with a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash that does not use the popular supplement in the Exmor R sensor, in Neo and Ray.Although the camera can not bear the brand Exmor R, the performance it can offer are of above-average level.

With regard to the management software of the camera, point out the fact that, unlike other models in the Xperia, Sony Ericsson has failed to customize the interface remains the standard of Android and does not offer the same rich feature set of the models just cited.

When the light is not missing, the performance is good, the colors are natural, the meter seems to favor conservative approach with a tendency toward underexposure, the level of detail is appropriate for a 5MP sensor.

Indoor performance does not suffer a significant performance hit. The merit of the algorithm is to reduce the noise and the same level of noise at source is not considered a high resolution sensor (remember that digital noise increases with the resolution of the sensor). The flash appeared always well controlled.

The Xperia Play does not disappoint even in macro shooting, thanks to a distance of focus enough to get the discrete objects framed enlargements.

In the shots at night shows the typical feature of cameras from Sony Ericsson, which is the tendency to apply an algorithm to reduce noise quite decided. As will be evident in the photos, the tradeoff between denoising and preservation of detail is acceptable.

The performance video is penalized with the maximum resolution is lower than that for the time used by the canons 720p smartphones with the same hardware of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. The situation should improve with the next software update that can enable the video recording in 720p (at the time of writing this upgrade has not yet been released for our devices).

GPS

The test performance of GPS has not worked side by criticism. The fix is ​​done in seconds and the amount of satellites attached was high even within an urban center. During our usual test track we ever recorded signal loss and recalculation of the route were made quickly.

The tools include Google Maps navigation software, Google Navigator and GPS navigation software Wisepilot that you can download free from the Android Market, if it were not pre-installed.

Autonomy

The battery pack integrated into Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has a nominal value of 1500 mAh. This value together with the second generation Qualcomm processor and convincingly Optimization software allows you to cross the finish line at the end of the day if you use a smartphone like the Xperia Play.

The picture changes if you make extensive use of the terminal as a gaming console. In this case the hand of autonomy can be moved from a few hours a day.

Conclusions

We defined the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play a single terminal and at the end of our tests we would like to reaffirm our assessment. Starting from a solid and proven hardware and software (just think that is the same that equips all current Android smartphone from Sony Ericsson, including the Arc and the Neo), the manufacturer is able to offer gaming enthusiasts the ideal tool to cultivate their passion.

The sectors in which Sony Ericsson Xperia Play some respects even exceeds the PSP are different: in the first place is a convergent device includes both a smartphone (high end) than a game console. Second has a park vast and titles more accessible to purely economic level (comparing the price of a PSP and a game of the android Market is easily done). Finally, the park is particularly articulate and qualifications meet the needs of lovers of old PlayStation games, new games for Android and the nostalgic ones who can go back to using, for example, Mame. In all cases the physical controller dedicated to the game makes the user experience much more engaging than that experienced with any full-touch smartphone.

The handset belongs to the highly specialized devices in a specific sector of activity and as such may not be able to meet all needs. The price to pay to use the first (and so far only) smartphone about PlayStation certified weights and dimensions above average and improved ergonomics (for example, happens accidentally touching the buttons L and R that even if you do not activate any function with the slide closed make the right edge of a little ‘too’ jagged, and the balance of the volume is very small, like the power button, the thickness is generous, etc.).. As mentioned in the review we reiterate that the absence of ‘HDMI output is very serious. We can only imagine the potential that further play would Xperia relying on video output. He would enter into competition with home consoles (but maybe that was exactly what Sony wanted to avoid).

It is easy to identify users who recommend the smartphone. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is the smartphone of the gamer. A gamer is tied to current titles and old glories of the past. If gaming is not one of the priorities recommended to pass by without too many regrets. The same catalog of Sony Ericsson offers the same speed performance models that point to other aspects (compactness, improved camera performance, etc.).

The fix is ​​done in seconds and the amount of satellites attached was high even within an urban center. During our usual test track we ever recorded signal loss and recalculation of the route were made quickly.

The tools include Google Maps navigation software, Google Navigator and GPS navigation software Wisepilot that you can download free from the Android Market, if it were not pre-installed.

Autonomy

The battery pack integrated into Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has a nominal value of 1500 mAh. This value together with the second generation Qualcomm processor and convincingly Optimization software allows you to cross the finish line at the end of the day if you use a smartphone like the Xperia Play.

The picture changes if you make extensive use of the terminal as a gaming console. In this case the hand of autonomy can be moved from a few hours a day.

Conclusions

We defined the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play a single terminal and at the end of our tests we would like to reaffirm our assessment. Starting from a solid and proven hardware and software (just think that is the same that equips all current Android smartphone from Sony Ericsson, including the Arc and the Neo), the manufacturer is able to offer gaming enthusiasts the ideal tool to cultivate their passion.

The sectors in which Sony Ericsson Xperia Play some respects even exceeds the PSP are different: in the first place is a convergent device includes both a smartphone (high end) than a game console. Second has a park vast and titles more accessible to purely economic level (comparing the price of a PSP and a game of the android Market is easily done). Finally, the park is particularly articulate and qualifications meet the needs of lovers of old PlayStation games, new games for Android and the nostalgic ones who can go back to using, for example, Mame. In all cases the physical controller dedicated to the game makes the user experience much more engaging than that experienced with any full-touch smartphone.

The handset belongs to the highly specialized devices in a specific sector of activity and as such may not be able to meet all needs. The price to pay to use the first (and so far only) smartphone about PlayStation certified weights and dimensions above average and improved ergonomics (for example, happens accidentally touching the buttons L and R that even if you do not activate any function with the slide closed make the right edge of a little ‘too’ jagged, and the balance of the volume is very small, like the power button, the thickness is generous, etc.).. As mentioned in the review we reiterate that the absence of ‘HDMI output is very serious. We can only imagine the potential that further play would Xperia relying on video output. He would enter into competition with home consoles (but maybe that was exactly what Sony wanted to avoid).

It is easy to identify users who recommend the smartphone. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is the smartphone of the gamer. A gamer is tied to current titles and old glories of the past. If gaming is not one of the priorities recommended to pass by without too many regrets. The same catalog of Sony Ericsson offers the same speed performance models that point to other aspects (compactness, improved camera performance, etc.).

Last presented at CES 2011 in Las Vegas, covering in full the search for new technical solutions aimed at increasing speed and susceptibility to multimedia content. The Motorola Atrix 4G fact supports the fast 4G networks, which allow you to navigate at extremely high speeds. And this without sacrificing support quadband GSM and UMTS.The HTML browser will take care only of the correct display of the pages. You can also take advantage of the distributed networks with integrated Wi-Fi antenna. Do not miss out on Bluetooth and USB data cable.

Design and equipment

The structure of the Motorola Atrix 4G is in classic style business. The front houses the large screen, a 4-inch TFT display with HD resolution. It displays up to 16 million colors and has a capacitive touch screen technology for optimal management functionality with simple touches on the screen. The interface is excellent with Motoblur UI that integrates Widgets and Multi-Touch technology. The thickness dell’Atrix 4G is average, with 10.1 mm. The frame is block and below the display are a few quick function keys.

Key Features

The platform which is fitted to the Motorola Google Android, ready to take advantage of advanced multimedia features. Each instrument is at the service user’s business: from advanced management of contacts, appointments to the organizer, as well as multiple alarm clocks and a currency converter. Messages and E-mails are always under control.You can also manage Office documents and PDF. Applications such as YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps and many more are always available. Java support also allows the installation of additional software. The appearance, however, offers hands-free telephone, voice recorder and support for video conferencing. One feature makes it unique: the ability to connect to a special docking station to transform the Motorola Atrix 4G into a netbook.

Entertainment and multimedia

Great tool even in moments of leisure, the Motorola Atrix 4G has a 5 megapixel digital camera. This resolution allows you to always get great shots, thanks to the dedicated functions. You can also record short movies. The media player already is comfortable to play audio and video files in quantity. The memory available for user data is easily expandable with microSD cards up to 32 GB. Interesting also the GPS receiver to complement satellite features to the device. In short, a wealth of technology for work and fun for every need. Or HDMI output for unparalleled quality for audio / video. A true concentrate of technology for the most passionate.

Operating system and processor

Motorola Xoom is undoubtedly one of the most interesting tablet of the moment. Use the Honeycomb release 3.1 of the Android OS from Google that, remember, is a version optimized for the tablet, which means that any operation or functionality can be achieved or performed in a simple and intuitive. In addition, the interface of multifinger Motorola Xoom makes managing application rather simple and is always possible to install several interactive widgets that provide all kinds of information, from e-mail to change the status of social networks. The operating system of the Motorola Xoom allows you to perform numerous operations incidental. One of the most interesting feature no doubt, for example, is the ability to issue voice commands to the device is to perform searches on the Internet both within the device itself, or to launch your favorite application immediately.
The Motorola Xoom also has an interesting virtual key, which provides access to a sort of tray that can hold up to 18 apps running. Switch between suid multitasking becomes an extremely simple and intuitive. The settings menu is divided into two columns instead, for ease of use. On the left are placed the various settings while on the right, there are commands to enable or disable various features. From the technical point of view, a powerful Dual Core processor 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 provides all the power needed to run multimedia content or to keep multiple windows open at once. From this point of view, Motorola Xoom is placed in a prominent position than many other competitors.
It suffices to consider download times reduced, for example, or the fluidity that can be experienced by playing a video in high definition. The concreteness of the data sheet of the tablet is evident in these situations where more power is required.

Design and specifications

Motorola Xoom measures 249.1 mm x 167.8 mm x 12.9 mm and weighs about 730 grams. In his hand is slightly heavy, but, nevertheless, can provide the right feed in terms of portability. In fact, the weight content is not exactly a direct result of the use of robust materials such as aluminum. Motorola has preferred to sacrifice to some extent the weight in favor of concreteness and solidity. The form factor, remember, is the 10.1-inch display is protected from the known quality Gorilla Glass which resists scratching and prevents any bumps.

A convenient HDMI port lets you connect the tablet to an external television in high definition on which to play any content. With the USB port you can upload files directly from a personal computer. Motorola Xoom is equipped with dual cameras. The first, on front, 2-megapixel sensor suitable for video conferencing, the second 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash for taking pictures that you always carry. The overall quality of the latter is quite good, especially when lighting conditions are favorable. In fact, the Xoom is defended well in less favorable contexts, understanding that, because the form factor, the taking of pictures is not particularly easy.

Media Tablet

Motorola Xoom combines a processor, 1 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. Do not miss the Bluetooth makes it easy to exchange data with other devices. The version we have is equipped with Wi-Fi. This tablet was created primarily as a multimedia device. To confirm this, two powerful speakers discreetly, ensuring high levels of volume, with no special noise or distortion. To be honest, play a movie on the Motorola Xoom is something really intriguing, thanks to the perfect combination of the audio and video processor assisted by a powerful and versatile. Finally, Motorola Xoom does not have a physical keyboard, of course, but it has a virtual keyboard that fits the orientation of the device. The use of this solution is reasonably comfortable in most situations in which the keyboard responds quickly and accurately only by using more demanding applications, have noticed the effects of lag which slowed down typing, sometimes in important ways.

Today, we offer a quick review on ASUS Eee Pad Transformer tablet, which we were not able to review first. Waiting for the new (rumored) Transformers 2, we are confident that this tablet can still find a place in the homes of some of our readers (thanks to falling prices). The device we have is from nVidia and has been used in a very intense way. Unfortunately, we could not show every feature of the device in order to respect the privacy of the owner.

Ergonomics and Construction

Our device was very “experienced” and as such had some signs of wear that are not usually present on the tablet. The device, however, seems to have governed in very good few months of life, and the chrome frame has suffered some blows very well. The back of the device, then it is very elegant and at the same time very comfortable to grip the device.

Hardware

Usually, we review products to its output (and sometimes even earlier) and vote for this hardware will obviously be affected by the transformer of the time that has elapsed. However, this is definitely a hardware in the middle of the tablet Honeycomb: dual core processor 1GHz GPU Tegra 2, 1GB RAM, 16GB of internal memory and powerful speaker. Sadly, there is the micro USB connection, but is instead the HDMI port, micro SD slot and a proprietary connector for charging and data exchange.

Touch screen and displays
Unfortunately we have not yet found a real Android tablet with a screen quality. The screen on this Transformer is comparable to that Tab Icon A500, which is not too bright and that holds fingerprints.

Software

The software of this Transformer ASUS is almost unchanged compared to any installation of Honeycomb on a tablet. The software version is the latest available (3.2) and this allows him to enjoy all the latest improvements made by Google. We find, however, as a pleasant surprise, the ability to set the browser as if we were to a desktop computer (viewing sites in the full version) and the ability to make screenshots while pressing the task manager.

Software: Multimedia

Pretty bare the multimedia part: good music player, but absent a dedicated video player to view video in mp4 format other than.

Software: Browsers

The browser has received some very interesting tricks like the scroll bar to run the page and the ability to change user agents. And ‘course compatible with Flash Player, even if in general, the flow could be improved (as then of all the tablet Honeycomb).

Autonomy

The autonomy of the tablet is good but perhaps just below the average for other devices. No problem, however, to complete a day’s work.

Judgement

As mentioned at the beginning of the review, all votes are heavily influenced by when the review was done, but we are confident that our recommendations will be helpful to those seeking a Honeycomb tablet at an affordable price.

Package

The package for the Acer tablet is really skinny. Really strange considering the precedents of Acer, that we had always used to pack very wealthy. Include: power supply, some manual, cleaning cloth for the display and micro USB cable. There is no HDMI cable, no housing and no headphones unbelievably well.

Ergonomics and Construction

It ‘still a tablet and then the dimensions are quite generous, but the black-board frame screen is not too thick, and indeed, it is the right size to keep your fingers resting on the tablet when regime. The back is also made entirely of aluminum with two holes for the speakers for the stereo camera Mega pixel. The volume keys are pressed well, as well as the power button. A little ‘more difficult to maneuver the switch for auto-rotate. Overall, the feeling is that of having a quality device in hand.

Hardware

Dual core processor 1 GHz GPU Tegra 2 and Mega pixel camera. Overall, therefore, the average output devices. But we have no surplus of just over “standard” components: HDMI output, USB input (for standard key way or external keyboards), powerful speaker and a front camera 2 Megapixel well. Last (but certainly not least) the well-32GB of memory available in the terminal.

Display & Touch screen

The responsiveness of the touch is the first category, unfortunately we cannot say the same of the display. The brightness is good, but often you have to disable the automatic adjustment in favor of a manual a bit ‘above average. The display, however, retains an excessive fingerprint and reflects so much sunlight. The angle for excellent visibility and is therefore, a pity that the display has these defects.

Software

Acer, the standard version of Honeycomb, has installed some additional programs: as a new 3D gallery, a media center (of little use), a program for the social networks and well 3 complete games (Let’s Golf HD, Need for Speed ​​Shift Hero of Sparta HD). There are really particular, benefits from the pre-installed software, and then we can consider the tablet almost like a version of “pure” Android. Of course, there is all the Google software for the tablet in the revised version: Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Chrome Browser, Calendar and Google Talk (with video).

Software: Multimedia

As we know the multimedia sector of Android is definitely not her strong point, but something has changed in the Honeycomb. The camera interface is rich and full of features. The music player has gained a bit ‘of elegance (although still not the best usability) and YouTube and become a true multimedia theater.

Software: Browsers

The browser’s default honeycomb is sensational. Fast, convenient and very comfortable with the new tab and the new incognito to leave no trace when browsing (convenient to provide the tablet with friends who may make access to various web services with their data). Pinch-zooming and fluid, thanks to full support for Flash plugin in version 10.2. The screen 10 “also provides an excellent yield of the sites in the full version. Unfortunately, we had to install Dolphin HD Browser to set the default navigation “PC style.”

Autonomy

The 3250mAh battery provides a quiet couple of days of battery life standard. When used in a very intense, however, does not let you walk before going to sleep.