In a world dominated by Apple’s iPad 2, it seems there are few alternatives for a decent tablet. I can say that I have nothing against the iPad, but I do like to browse websites with Flash freely on Chrome, and easily modify and customize my devices to suit my needs. As a result I opted to go for the Motorola Xoom. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by this device. I felt that more people should know about it, since it seems like the marketing would suggest there is only the iPad and the Playbook to choose from.
I would like to showcase some of the more interesting features I found on this device. Since it seems like there is not nearly enough information about it online or anywhere else.
Technical Specifications
First off are some of the impressive specs:
- 10.1 inch hi-res 1280 x 800 screen, that is more natural in the “landscape” position
- Front and rear cameras, 2MP and 5MP each, 720p video capture
- Dual core 1GHz processor
- GPS, gyroscope, barometer, ambient Light and proximity sensors
- Standard with Android 3.0 Honeycomb as the OS
- 700 grams in weight
- Onboard memory up to 32GB, plus a microSD card slot to expand the capacity
- micro USB port, charging port (unfortunately you can’t charge over USB) and micro HDMI out
- Apps are available anywhere, not just on a locked-down app store; Also there are tons of very useful free apps
- Flash runs rather well within the browser, although it should be noted that many Flash sites are not currently designed with touch interfaces in mind … this is not a problem in everyday browsing, however.
One thing I love about this device software-wise, is that if you have a Google account, it basically sets itself up once you log in. All the Google apps work automatically and import all necessary information for you, so setting it up is a breeze. I am also a fan of the Android interface, in particular for a tablet device, since the ability to put widgets on the screen is invaluable. I can check all my pertinent information at a glance on the first screen, rather than have to open up an app to do so. Also, the notification bar (seen on the bottom right) shows you any updates to anything including email, chats, etc. The new Honeycomb interface is pretty slick, and diverges from Apple’s “shiny, glossy” iOS. It reminds me a bit of the movie Tron for some reason, so it has some nerd-appeal.
I am also extremely fond of the browser that is built into this device. I am not certain that it is Chrome exactly, however the interface is familiar in the tabbing, bookmarks sync as well as the combo search/address bar. These features alone make the device worth while for me, since I use it primarily for browsing.
One other awesome feature is the experimental interface that can be enabled in the browser’s settings. Essentially, if you drag either of your thumbs from the devices left or right edge towards the center of the screen, you will get a top-level menu that features all the most important parts of the browser, as seen in the picture to the left.
Below is a zoomed example of a useful widget called “Free Power Widget” I installed, that puts all the hardware controls at your fingertips. I would definitely recommend that one as it saves time in looking through the settings panel.
Downsides
To be fair, I think I should mention that the tablet is not perfect, and that there are a few slightly annoying flaws:
- It can’t be charged via USB, so bringing the power adapter is required on trips. The battery does last an incredibly long time though, sometimes more than 2 days of non-processor intensive use.
- Getting the device onto the official charging dock is a pain, especially in the dark. This is more of a problem with the dock though.
- The majority of the apps on the App Market are designed for phones, and as a result just scale to the larger screen making them annoying to use. This will certainly change over time as more apps are developed.
Conclusion
Overall, I would say the device makes an excellent general-purpose device, with impressive hardware specs. Android is a great OS, especially for tinkerers like myself and being able to browse flash-heavy websites with no issues is really great. One final note, is that the Xoom is very competitively priced at about $100-200 less than an iPad in the same class.