Tag: tablet

Samsung Launched iPad Rival, The Galaxy Tab S

Samsung has launched its two latest tablets, Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4. The two models are scheduled for a mid-July release in both 3G and 4G LTE variants. The new Samsung Galaxy Tab S tablets were first unveiled on June 13 at an event in New York. This new line of high-end tablet computers, obviously, rivals against Apple’s iPad.

As far as specs and user experience are concerned, Samsung has done a great job but the prices are higher than what Apple is offering. The Galaxy Tab S features Super AMOLED displays. AMOLED stands for active-matrix organic light-emitting diodes which are already found in smartphones made by Samsung and a few other manufacturers. But until now, tablets haven’t used them because larger AMOLED screens are difficult to produce.

Besides producing richer colours, AMOLED allows the Galaxy Tab S tablets to be thinner and use less power because screens typically don’t require backlighting. Samsung did release an AMOLED tablet in 2012 which didn’t sell well because it was too expensive. The new ones will be priced more competitively. The Galaxy Tab S tablets are a quarter of an inch (6.6 millimeters) thick, which is thinner than the iPads. The smaller version is also lighter than the iPad Mini, while the larger one is about the same as the iPad Air.

Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and 8.4 are powered by an Exynos 5 Octa processor (1.9GHz quad-core+ 1.3GHz quad-core), and 3GB RAM. The devices run Android 4.4 (KitKat) with Samsung’s customized UI. These feature 16GB internal storage and a microSD card slot that supports cards of up to 128GB. Both the variants sport 8MP rear cameras with LED flash and a 2.1MP front-facing cameras. In terms of connectivity, the tablets offer Wi-Fi (including 802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.0, IrLED, 3G and voice calling capabilities.

The new tablets will also allow users to make calls and the device can be unlocked using a fingerprint. The tablets can support up to eight user profiles, so members of a single family can get separate home screens simply by swiping their finger on the sensor.

Until now, iPad rivals have succeeded largely by undercutting Apple on price, and better hardware hasn’t been enough. AMOLED screens could change that, because Samsung certainly have an edge with it. The Galaxy Tab S range will be available in India at Rs 37,800 for 8.4 inch and Rs 44,800/- for 10.5 inch variant. It comes in two colour options, Titanium Bronze and Dazzling White.

July 1, 2014
Is Flipkart Getting Ready to Launch its Own Range of Tablets?

The recent round of rumors are that Flipkart is gearing up to launch a range of tablets under its own private label, DigiFlip. The label already sells a number of accessories under the same label, including earphones, portable speakers, laptop accessories, etc. This move would be huge step for the company to set up a tight race against E-commerce giant and arch-rival Amazon, which already sells tablets, apart from e-book readers under its Kindle brand.

Apparently, Flipkart has tied up with MediaTek to build its tablets that have been acquired from manufacturers based out of China and Taiwan. While pricing and hardware specifications would be key to the success of these tablets, it also remains to be seen whether Flipkart can weave in its primary online retail offerings that include e-books among other categories and make the tablet as a tool to access its services.

Though, the company is tight-lipped about this new venture, it will be worth noticing how it differentiates itself in an already crowded tablet market space. In India, more than 4 million tablets were shipped last year making it one of the biggest tech segment in the market. The tablet market is right now ruled by likes of Samsung, Micromax and Apple.

Flipkart has been working continuously to gain more customers and sales. Few months back, Flipkart took over Myntra.com and online shopping store. If done right, Flipkart can easily take the throne and become the domestic Amazon.

June 18, 2014
One Step Ahead: 3D Imaging on New Google Tablet

“What if you could walk into a store and see exactly where that thing you need to buy is, or play hide-and-seek in your home with that character from your favorite game, or help the visually-impaired navigate that place they have never been able to to go on their own? We believe the possibilities are vast.” That’s been Google’s Project Tango‘s vision. And now, Google is reportedly working on a tablet version of this initiative, that incorporates multiple advanced imaging sensors into a portable device for real time 3D imaging and mapping.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Internet search giant is further exploring into computer vision technology with a 7-inch tablet which has two rear-facing cameras, infrared depth sensors and highly customized software. The small-format slate seems to be an oversized version of the existing prototype Project Tango smartphone released in February by Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects division.

Google’s Project Tango webpage notes the sensor suite “allows the phone to make over a quarter million 3D measurements every second. Updating its position and orientation in real-time, and then further combining that data into a single 3D model of the space around you.”

In February, Google had released a prototype smartphone out of that group, which also boasts sensors that could come up with a 3D map of your surroundings. The tablet appears to have the same or similar imaging hardware as the smartphone version, which features a regular camera mounted near the top of the handset, a motion-sensing camera placed opposite and incorporated depth sensors mounted between the two. It is unknown what type of CPU will power the tablet, but the phone boasts two “computer vision” processors and assorted positioning sensors for calculating movement in three-dimensions.

The project’s recommended applications range from the ordinary, such as capturing the dimensions of a home before furniture shopping simply by waving the phone around a room, to the helpful, such as aiding the visually impaired inside unfamiliar buildings, to the playful, such as turning a foyer into a virtual-reality game space.

Facebook is also exploring advanced computer vision technology with its planned $2 billion acquisition of Oculus VR, the maker of virtual reality headset Oculus Rift. The headset was originally intended for use with gaming devices, but Facebook has said it plans to extend its virtual reality capabilities beyond gaming into areas such as communications, media, entertainment, and education.

Developers already have their hands on the phone and WSJ reports the company plans to release the tablet to select testers prior to Google I/O, which begins on June 25.

May 23, 2014
Meet Cortana , Microsoft’s Alternative to Siri

Microsoft has finally shown off its new mobile search assistant, Cortana, its version of Siri and Google Now.

As a part of Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 8.1 update, Cortana is a new Voice Recognition based personal digital assistant. Named after the AI in the popular XBOX title “Halo” the “personal digital assistant,” has the ability to search the Internet, set up alarms, shift calendar appointments, find restaurants, send messages, place calls and more.

Cortana is quite identical to Siri on an iPhone, tap a button and ask the ui a question, however like Google Now Coranta can also tap into applications and and the phone’s core services to deliver you contextual information.It can offer the weather where you’re located, deliver favorite sports scores, or scan email and provide updates on a flight status or package delivery.

Cortana runs on Bing and has a lot of intriguing features, for example it learns from habits of its users when and how they do their tasks. One unique feature of Cortana is that it can actually push the results of its searches over to other apps. Also like competition, Cortana doesn’t need to learn your voice and tries to interact with you naturally.

Cortana wasn’t the only new aspect of Windows Phone 8.1, which now has a notification drawer called Action Center, which collects text messages, emails, calls and updates from social networks and other apps. It also has quick toggles for things like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi seen on Android and iOS both.

Microsoft Also plans to push this Windows for free for hardware makers to use on phones, tablets with screens under nine inches. This should considerably bring down the costs of hardware running Windows.

April 3, 2014
Asus Launches Transformer Book T100 in India For 34099 INR

Asus today launched its Transformer Book T100 in India at a price of 34099 INR. The T100 is a laptop which can also be used as a tablet, the device runs on Windows 8.1 and will be available in November.

The Asus Transformer Book T100 features a 10.1 inch HD Glare display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixles and can be detached from the laptop and used as a tablet. The keyboard is equipped with a dock connector that attaches the tablet to turn into a laptop and also includes backlit keys.

The T100 is powered by a 1.33 GHz quad core Intel Atom Bay-trail T Z3740 processor along with Intel HD graphics. The Asus Transformer Book T100 is packed with a 2 GB of RAM and a 32 GB built-in eMMC storage expandable to 64 GB via microSD card. Asus says that the device can run almost through out the day and give 10 hours of continuous video playback. The 2 in 1 device has a 1.2 MP front facing camera.

The Asus Transformer Book T100 is powered by dual frontal speakers and weighs 1.07 Kg as a laptop and 550 grams as a tablet.

October 29, 2013
Lenovo Launches A10 an Android Powered Convertible Laptop

Lenovo is no new to laptops, but the Lenovo A10 is the first Android powered laptop for the company. The device is a 10.1 inch notebook with a rotatable touchscreen display.

The Lenovo A10 can be used as a laptop or tablet, it features a 10.1 inch HD display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The device runs on Android 4.2 and is powered by a 1.6 GHz quad-core Rockchip RK3188 Cortex-A9 processor. Lenovo A10 is packed with a 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage which is further expandable via micro SD, the company claims that it offers 9 hours of battery life with continuous video playback. The device sports a VGA webcam, two USB 2.0 ports and a HDMI port.

With the recent explosive growth in Android-based, smart connected devices, customers are relying more on Android apps for both work and play. Why should they be required to switch and duplicate to use their laptop? Lenovo’s A10 brings ultra-portability and dual-mode benefits to Android users at a reasonable price,” said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group. “Thin and light, with multiple modes and user-inspired innovations for an outstanding user experience … the A10 is uniquely Lenovo.”

The press release says that the availability and pricing varies by region, however as per our sources the device might not be available in parts of US but will be sold in Europe and Asia regions. The pricing is said to start from 249 USD.

[toggle title=”Press Release “]Lenovo A10 Debuts as First Lenovo Laptop Powered by Android

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC– October 18, 2013: Multimode computing leader Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced the Lenovo A10, an affordable, ultra-portable, dual-mode laptop and the company’s first to run on Android 4.2 OS. Weighing less than 1kg and measuring just 17.3mm at its thickest point, the Lenovo A10 is an ideal companion for users on the go, providing easy access to a wide range of apps on a unique, dual-mode platform, which enhances the user experience for entertainment and Web browsing as well as productivity.

“In laptop mode,” users can take advantage of the A10’s unique, Lenovo-customized user interface, which provides an app launcher, task bar and status bar for quick, intuitive access to the app library and desktop, as well as convenient multitasking and app switching. File manager software, also included with the Lenovo customized OS, makes it easy to locate and manage a library of documents, videos and music. In laptop mode, the device offers a full-size ergonomic, AccuType keyboard for safe, comfortable use.

With the A10’s 10.1-inch HD (1366 x 768) resolution screen flipped around 300 degrees in “stand mode,” the Lenovo A10 shines as a device optimized for touch-enabled apps and entertainment. The stable hinge and “fold-back” design keeps the device steady and prevents shaking and bouncing while using the 10-point multi-touch screen. Stereo speakers and an integrated 0.3M webcam help users stay connected with family and friends while enjoying an immersive “sight and sound” experience with multimedia apps, games and video.

The Lenovo A10 is powered by an RK3188, quad-core Cortex-A9 processor, running at a maximum frequency of 1.6GHz, the highest frequency for all quad-core ARM-based CPUs currently available. The Cortex-A9 processor delivers solid performance for gaming and entertainment purposes, as well as enhances users’ ability to multitask and be productive. In addition, the A10’s battery supports up to nine hours of continuous video playback, ensuring that it is ready to perform, both on the road and at the desk.

“With the recent explosive growth in Android-based, smart connected devices, customers are relying more on Android apps for both work and play. Why should they be required to switch and duplicate to use their laptop? Lenovo’s A10 brings ultra-portability and dual-mode benefits to Android users at a reasonable price,” said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group. “Thin and light, with multiple modes and user-inspired innovations for an outstanding user experience … the A10 is uniquely Lenovo.”

Pricing and availability varies per region. [/toggle]

October 19, 2013
Acer Launches Windows 8.1 Tablet: ‘Acer Iconia W4’

Acer has recently launched the Iconia W4, the tablet will start shipping in the US this month and will be available in two variants 32/64 GB, priced at $330/$380 respectively.

The tablet is powered by Intel’s Atom processor which is clocked at 1.8 GHz, the device features a 8 inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. The Acer Iconia W4 sports a 5 MP autofocus camera and a 2 MP front facing camera. The device is preloaded with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 for creating and editing Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, out of the box. The tablet supports additional storage up to 32 GB via microSD card and features some connectivity options like Micro-USB, Micro-HDMI and microSD slot.

The Acer Iconia W4 is a successor to the Iconia W3 tablet which was launched last year, however, the tablet runs Windows 8.1 which is Microsoft’s latest operating system for desktops, notebooks and tablets which is now already available. Windows 8.1 brings new updates like enhanced searching and sharing features with Internet Explorer 11 and brings back the Start button.

Pricing and availability for the Indian market is not yet available, but we will keep you informed with all the latest updates.

October 18, 2013
Binatone Launches New 7 Inch Tablet For Kids

Binatone has launched a new tablet, App Star is a 7 inch tablet made for kids above the age of 4 years. The Binatone App Star is priced at 9999 INR.

Binatone App Star was launched in UK and other European countries earlier, the tablet has a 7 inch screen and is protected with a special case which will protect the tablet if fallen from table height. The tablet can be operated in two modes – ‘APP STAR’ mode for kids and ‘Parent’ mode which is the default Android screen mode. The two can easily be switched through the parental control.

This ‘APP STAR’ is packed full of software suitable for children of 4 years and above. It has preloaded fun games, educational apps, art studios, e-books, audio-books, music player and camera with video recorder,” Binatone Country Head S P Singh said in a statement. The App Star has secured password protected parental control built-in to the software to ensure time control and firewalled Internet browsing for kids.”

October 14, 2013
Nokia Lumia 2520 tablet leaked in Cyan Color

In a few weeks at Abu Dhabi at Nokia World, the company will announce its latest product strategy, the Lumia 2520 Tablet. Notorious Tipster @evleaks is back with some fresh images of the upcoming Lumia 2520 tablet in the expected cyan color.

What is currently unknown is the list of specs of the device, however we did hear that it will carry a Snapdragon 800, an outdoor-ready 1080p screen and LTE, the tablet would last a healthy 10 hours on battery. It would also include both 6-megapixel rear and 2-megapixel front cameras, and Nokia may complement the previously mentioned 32GB of storage with a microSD card slot. The only real thing that needs to be found is what OS it will run between an option of Windows 8, RT and Windows Phone. Stay tuned for More!

October 12, 2013
Twitter’s Tablet Application Will Only Work With Samsung Devices, Rest to Follow By Year End
Twitter has an app already, but the new app we are talking about is an proper optimized Twitter application specially for tablets. The app provides a landscape view that shows both the Twitter timeline and content from expanded tweets.

Twitter claims that they have worked with Samsung to introduce some unique features for this optimized app. The new features include:
- Multi-screen view – This new view lets you run Twitter and another app at the same time. Much like the multitasking on Samsung devices.
- Twitter widget – The new Twitter widget lets you engage with Tweets, photos, and videos while also delivering country specific breaking news, music, sports and photos
- Illustrate your Tweets – With this app you can now use Twitter as your canvas to create and tweet colorful illustrations, or you can also draw directly on photos from your photo gallery and share them.
The tablet-optimized Android software is available only for the Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition)right now, and it’s coming to other Samsung slates by end of the year along with other Android Tablets.

[via]
October 11, 2013
DOMO launches Slate X14 Android tablet at Rs. 4,990

DOMO has launched the Slate X14 tablet for Rs. 4,990, targeting students. The DOMO Slate X14 comes with 7-inch LCD display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. It is powered by a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, and has a Mali 400 GPU with 512 MB of RAM. The dimensions of the Slate X14 121 x 182 x 10 (mm) and weighs in at 270 grams. It features 4GB of built-in storage which can be expanded up to 32GB with the help of a micro SD card. The tablet runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with Flash support.

Commenting on the launch, Mazher Shaikh, Business Development Manager at DOMO said, “DOMO Slate X14 has been designed especially for student offering value for money features. With support for most 3G dongles, users can stay connected to internet on the go.”

The Slate X14 include a 2-megapixel front camera and the connectivity options as Wi-Fi, Micro-USB and 3G via external USB dongle. The tablet does not come with SIM support. The DOMO Slate X14 can playback 1080p videos, and runs on a 3000 mAh battery.

The tablet comes up with a warranty of 3 months for the box accessories which includes Device Charger, USB Cable and OTG Cable and the device itself comes up with a limited warranty of 6 months, which can be a problem for some. The repairs are done through onsite pick up and deliveries, that mean if you buy this tablet you don’t have to run around to find a service center.

September 13, 2013
Report : Motorola Designing New Android Tablet

After the announcement of much hyped Moto-X smartphone, the Google-owned Illinois based company has hinted the making of Motorola tablets.

“That’s something we are working on, but [there’s] nothing specific to talk about right now,” Dennis Woodside, CEO of Motorola told Engadget when asked about plans to manufacture the Motorola tablets.

The tablet will probably be available to customize through Moto Maker, just like the Motorola Moto X smartphone. There are no details on what hardware it will come with as yet.

Under the guidance of new owners Google, Motorola Mobility has decided that personalization is the way forward when it comes to mobile devices and that being able to choose wallpapers, colors, cases and finishes is just as important as processing speeds or screen resolution. For proof, look no further than its current Moto X handset which, through a dedicated mini site, can be customized and tweaked by prospective owners before it’s shipped to their doors.

Woodside also mentioned that the expected phablet-sized Moto device would be inspired by few Moto-X features such as “design cues, as well as technologies..”

The device will not be a continuation to Motorola’s “Xoom” line of tablets, the recent shutting down of which has been reported as a result of the company settling down on a lawsuit filed by the online payment processing firm in 2011.

September 12, 2013
Intel Showcased 4th Generation Processors at The “India Retail Innovation & Technology Tour”

Intel today organized India Retail Innovation & Technology Tour, and showcased a wide range of devices powered by Intel’s latest processors.

The aim of the seminar was to showcase the advanced technology supported by Intel 4^th generation processors, which helps users to interact with technology in various innovative ways like gestures, touch and voice commands.

Devices which were on display during the session include 2-in-1 devices, Ultrabooks, Tablets, Value PCs, and Smartphones, which are based on Intel processors.

2013 has been a special year for us, with the launch of 4 processors and the Silvermont micro-architecture. These innovations have been a step towards revolutionizing the way we interface with computing devices through touch, voice, facial recognition and gesture-based interactions. With the launch of Bay Trail later this year, we will only take another step in making this a reality and the event today is aimed at showcasing how the consumer’s experience can be taken to the next level”- says, Thaine Creitz, Director Consumer Channels Group, Intel Corporation.

Intel 4^th generation processors are Equipped with Intel Quick Sync Video to facilitate easier and faster conversion of videos. The session included showcasing of the ArcSoft ShowBiz, which is a Windows 8 UI application to produce videos quickly using the Intel Quick Sync Video feature. You can create videos in various different formats like Blu-ray, DVDs, 3D videos, etc and also inter convert them easily and quickly.

Many products were showcased during the presentation including the Dell XPS18 which might launch in India soon, it has a giant touch screen of 18.4 inches with Intel Pentium / i3 / i5 processors, memory(RAM) is 4 / 4 / 8 GB, hard disk option would be 320 / 500 / 500 GB + 32 SSD, this device would have Windows 8 64 bit and the giant device weighs 2.2 Kg. This device costs $ 899.99 / 999.99 / 1349.99 respectively. You can find the images below.

Intel also showcased the mini CPU, which can make the towers portable. You can check some images below:

One of the tablet that was showcased during the event was the Ramos W32, comes with a 10.1 inch screen, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of in built storage and is priced at $259.99:

Besides of all these products, Intel showcased alot more. The company has tied up for smartphones with Indian manufacturers like Xolo and Lenovo and has plans to get some more partners to boost up its smartphone range.

[toggle title=”Press Release”]Intel hosts “India Retail Innovation & Technology Tour”

Showcases wide range of devices based on touch, gesture and voice recognition technologies

New Delhi, September 10, 2013: Intel today organized an interactive “India Retail Innovation &

Technology Tour” to showcase and demonstrate an all new “Fast-Easy– Safe” computing experience

through a wide range of high performance devices powered by Intel’s latest processors. The session

featured a wide array of form factors including the latest 2-in-1devices, Ultrabooks™, Value PCs,

Tablets with Android* and Windows 8* and Smartphones based on Intel processors. An exciting

range of demos and applications were showcased on these devices to highlight the benefits and

goodness of Intel® Architecture.

Applications to show touch with performance and enhanced gaming experience

Intel® Quick Sync Video, built right into the 4th generation Intel® Core™ processor, uses dedicated

media processing to make video creation and conversion faster and easier. With it you can create

DVDs or Blu-ray* discs, create and edit 3D videos, convert 2D video files into 3D, and convert

video for your portable media player and for uploading to your favorite social networking sites—

all in a flash. The session included showcasing of the ArcSoft ShowBiz

application to produce videos quickly using the Intel Quick Sync Video feature.

Also available in new 4th generation Intel® Core™ processors, the Intel® Iris™ Pro graphics

5200 and Intel® Iris™ graphics 5100 give consumers a better gaming experience with more stunning

performance than ever before. One notable app that takes advantage of these new graphics to deliver

a visually stunning racing experience is Codemasters GRID 2

one could get a richer application experience on Intel® Architecture. In addition to great graphics,

Ultrabook device users can enhance their experiences with touch, sensor and gesture input.

At the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco this week, Intel will officially introduce

Bay Trail, Intel’s first 22nm SoC for mobile devices based on the company’s new low-power, highperformance Silvermont microarchitecture. Bay Trail will power a range of innovative designs most

notably tablets and 2-in-1s.

During the year Intel has also delivered the biggest increase in battery efficiency in the

company’s history with the 4th generation Intel® Core™ processors. These 4th gen Intel Core

processors combine stunning PC performance with tablet-like mobility, accelerating the category of

2-in-1 devices. With power levels as low as 6 watts in system design power, Intel is enabling thinner,

lighter, cooler, quieter and fanless designs, while adding broad new human interfaces to computing

devices through touch, voice, facial recognition and gesture-based interactions.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Thaine Creitz, Director Consumer Channels Group, Intel

Corporation said “2013 has been a special year for us, with the launch of 4

processors and the Silvermont microarchitecture. These innovations have been a step towards

revolutionizing the way we interface with computing devices through touch, voice, facial recognition

and gesture-based interactions. With the launch of Bay Trail later this year, we will only take

another step in making this a reality and the event today is aimed at showcasing how the consumer’s

experience can be taken to the next level”.

Intel also announced the launch of the Silvermont microarchitecture earlier this year. The

technology is aimed squarely at low-power requirements in market segments from smartphones to

the data center and delivers industry-leading performance-per-watt efficiency. The highly balanced

design brings increased support for a wider dynamic range and seamlessly scales up and down in

performance and power efficiency.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds

the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional

information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

Intel, Intel Core, Intel Atom and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other

countries. * Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.[/toggle]

September 10, 2013
Twitter App For Android Leaks

During Samsung’s IFA unveiling of the Galaxy Gear, Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Note 10.1, they inadvertently showed “the redesigned Twitter app” for Android tablets. The basics of the app worked exactly how Twitter for Android smartphones operates, just optimized for larger tablet displays (similar to Twitter for iPad).

There was no firm release date by Twitter, but for those deeply into the social media platform – perhaps while watching TV – can go forth and download the app as a copy as a APK has founds its place online. While the APK is available for installation (thanks to the industrious folks over at Android Next), the installer package is tricky to get working. If you can get it to work, the app probably won’t run all that great. But, it’s a great sign of what’s to come, and hopefully, the official version of the tablet-optimized Twitter app for Android will be available soon.

For those who have been complaining that Android tablets aren’t getting all of the apps that they should, this is an encouraging sign.

[Via]

September 9, 2013
Google Nexus 7 2013 2nd Gen Review – Tablet of the Year

Last year the Google Nexus 7 became the best 7 inch tablet on Android, only because the best 10 inch tablet turned out to be the Nexus 10. This year the Nexus 7 is back in a sleeker and more refined format, only to tackle the title yet again. This is iGyaan’s review of the new Nexus 7.

Build Quality and Hardware

[pullquote_left]Slimmer, Taller, and Thinner[/pullquote_left]

Setting the standards yet again the new Nexus 7 from Google offers the perfect mix of the right build and design you would expect from a tablet today. The back of the Nexus 7 loses the ribbed texture, only to be replaced with a plain soft touch back panel which not only is more comfortable to hold but also adds to the aesthetic. The new Nexus 7 2013 is slimmer, taller, and thinner than the first edition of the market breaking Android tablet.

The front of the new Nexus 7 2013 is laden with a Gorilla Glass display that stretches out to 7.02 inches and features a high resolution of 1920 x 1200 px, simply dwarfing any and every tablet in the market today when it comes to the display resolution. The overall pixel density of the display rests at 323 ppi and the Touchscreen will accept a 10 point touch input.

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq6MCDLmKXI”]

The Innards are comprised of a Quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset with a 1.5 GHz Krait CPU and an impressive Adreno 320 GPU which is clocked at 400 MHz. The 3950 mAh battery provides the juice and the optics are defined by a 5 MP main shooter and a docile 1.2 MP forward facing peephole. All this is supported by fixed internal storage options of 16 GB and 32 GB along with 2 GB of RAM.

Display and Multimedia

Who says extra pixels are not good? On a larger screen the more pixels you can get the less they seem. The New Nexus 7 2013 finds this balance in the display size and pixel density nearing the retina stature for small handhelds. The display is gorgeous no matter what you do with it, movies, browsing and even gaming. The display delivers with vivid colors and excellent viewing angles.

The new Nexus 7 is a great content consumption device you will almost always enjoy picking up the tablet. The interface is instant in terms of response and the overall multimedia experience is just shy of what you could expect from a flagship tablet. The only real downside is the lack of enhanced audio, the inbuilt speakers, although stereo and well placed, simply are not enough.

Cameras

The new Nexus 7 2013 is US $ 20 more expensive than last years edition, most of which can be blamed on the additional 5 MP camera at the back of the tablet. The new camera may be an addition in price, but a lot of owners will accept is as a welcome addition and a valid additional expense.

The camera is no design and engineering marvel, with flat pictures and no real points of emphasis, it is just a camera on a tablet which may as well not have been there. Pictures from the main camera are prone to loss of focus and sometimes exposed inaccurately causing a severe problem in the overall feel when using the new Nexus 7.

Video capture is also average, with a lot of shake getting carried through to the 1080p footage.

Nexus Performance and Gaming

One of the biggest reasons the Nexus 7 came out on top last year was the fact that the tablet ran a completely vanilla Nexus rom with no customizations. Same is the case with newer edition Nexus 7 2013, the experience of pure Android makes performance of the device a notch better, the tablet a notch more responsive than any other custom Tablet UI including those from Samsung and Sony.

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFROkb4Qc7c”]

Gaming has been best defined in our video below. But, to elaborate a little more, the perfect size of the tablet, the light weigh and the hardware on the inside promises an unmatched gaming experience. You really will appreciate the Adreno 320 Graphics and the S4 chipset in action along with the ample 2 Gigs of RAM which make for an exciting gaming experience.

[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FAzR1TjrxM”]

Nexus 7 as a Tablet

The new Nexus 7 2013 is more a tablet than its predecessor. Since a modern day tablet has to be portable, powerful, thin and light yet capable of long hours of use, the new Nexus 7 fits those criterion like a glove. The new Nexus 7 is a perfect balance, where on one hand it give you the portability you will need, on the other it offers up the performance you will demand. The tablet choses to look good while doing it as well.

Charging port and Speaker

Buttons Layout

Analogue TV OUT

smooth UI

still pocketable

Conclusion

Since the lower strata of the market is crowded by tablets of the third edition, the slightly expensive Nexus 7 provides the ultimate satisfaction. But since no one is ever fully satisfied, the Nexus 7, just like the iPad, will never be a phone. Honestly, we don’t want it to be a phone, the 4G variant will offer up data on the go for those who need it. The new Nexus 7 has the highest resolution display, the best gaming performance, good looks and portable yet solid construction. Need we say more?

The new Nexus 7 gets tablet of the year 2013 (till September) from iGyaan.We expect the new Nexus 7 to launch in India soon, for pricing and more details click here.

August 13, 2013