Eric Schmidt told an Italian Newspaper that, in the next 6 months they are planning on releasing a tablet of the highest quality, that will be competing against the iPad. Google has been putting out pure devices with the Nexus branding on their phones and maybe, now is the time to start with the tablets.

The Motorola Xoom’s have been the flagship tablets from Google up to now, and that possibly might not change with Google now owning Motorola Mobility. Only time will tell what Google comes out with but whatever it is, they better get ready, if your going to compete with the iPad right now you have an uphill battle ahead.

(via Android Community)

Hardware

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Plus measures in at 193.65 x 122.37 x 9.96 and weighs just over 12oz. It’s light, thin, and looks very sexy. The back of the Tab Plus looks like brushed metal, but it’s actually plastic. It doesn’t feel cheap at all. It’s a “dense” feeling device and has a nice weight to it, but it’s not heavy. The front of the Tab has a thin bezel that surrounds the screen and the sides taper off to give it very nice round edges. This along with the slightly rounded back give the Tab a great feel in the hand in either landscape or portrait. It’s light enough to hold with one hand, albeit heavier than a kindle, it is still very nice for reading. I tossed on the Marvel comics app and found it completely comfortable holding the Tab and flipping through pages. The 7” really is the sweet spot for me. Large high resolution screen, but still small enough that holding it isn’t cumbersome and staying mobile with it is a breeze. Another perk with the Tab Plus is that it slips into most pockets just fine. I wouldn’t recommend keeping it there all the time, but when you need both hands for something you don’t need a gear bag to toss it into.

Cameras

As far as I am concerned, cameras on tablets are for one thing, video calls. Holding up a tablet, even as small as 7″, to take pictures is just silly. The 3 megapixel camera on the back of the Tab Plus shoots in 720p but the quality is laughable. The 2 megapixel on the front works great for video calls, Skype and mobile hangouts via Google+. If you plan on getting anything else out of a tablet camera you’re kidding yourself.

Software

The Tab Plus upgrades from the previous model’s phone OS to Android Honeycomb 3.2. Samsung of course couldn’t help themselves and tweaked the UI slightly with Touchwiz. Much like the recent Galaxy S II line, the tweaks aren’t bad at all. It’s not as heavy as the customizations on the HTC Jetstream, but it’s not quite vanilla either. It’s a good mix. Samsung includes a few social apps and widgets, nothing to useful but for basic users they are there. There is also a persistant quick panel on the bottom that gives you access to a task manager, calendar, clock, memo pad, calculator, and music player. The neat thing about these apps is they launch right on top of whatever you doing much like a traditional PC “window”. I found myself using the music player the most and the memo pad quite useful as well.

As far as input methods go, the Tab offers a few different choices. You have the stock Android keyboard, a Samsung keyboard and Swype. Holding that Tab in portrait mode makes it awesome to thumb type on no matter which keyboard you choose. Typing in landscape is a little more challenging given the 16 x 9 aspect ration. Even for someone like myself who has pretty big hands, it’s tough to reach across the tablet with your thumbs. Laying it down or typing with one hand while holding with the other is much easier. Of course you could always install Thumb Keyboard and eliminate the problem all together. There is also a memo pad app that lets you write hand written notes. It’s not on the same level as the HTC Flyer and it’s Scribe Pen, but it’s nice to have.

Among the extra apps that Samsung loads is the Peel Smart Remote. It basically turns you Galaxy Tab Pus into a universal remote for controlling you media setup. I connected it to my Sanyo TV and U-Verse cable box with surprising ease using the built in IR blaster. The interface is really nice and it shows album for the TV programs, and even has a guide function built in. It’s a nice addition and given the Tab’s size, it makes for a great smart remote.

 Power and Performance

Android Honeycomb has come a pretty good way from when it first launched. The latest version is still a little laggy at some spots even though the device has a 1.2 dual core processor. It’s not all the time, but It’s worth mentioning. Now the browser is a whole different story. This thing screams! It’s one of the fastest mobile browsers I have ever used. Pages load and render lighting quick. HD video plays great, graphic intensive games play with no lag, and overall use is very smooth. All of this makes the here and there lag even more troubling. A device with these specs shouldn’t have these problems. They are most definitely software related.

Battery life on the Tab Plus is excellent. In the three weeks I have been using it, I might have charged it 4 times. That’s with pretty heavy usage consisting of web browsing, book reading, social networking, a little gaming and all with the screen at full brightness at all times.

Conclusion and Final Score

I am really fond of the 7” tablet size and it’s portability. For the few weeks I used the Tab Plus, I never hesitated bringing it with me wherever I went. It’s an equally great couch computer for browsing the web, posting to social networks, and controlling my entertainment system. The hardware is really solid, but Honeycomb still has some growing up to do. In most cases the Tab was blazing quick, and it lasted for days. I did have a few games that wouldn’t run do to compatibility and a hint of lag here and there, but overall I was happy with the Tab. With it’s $400 price point, you will really have to decide if you need all the features of Honeycomb. With the Kindle Fire coming in at half that cost, and the Nook Tablet being $250, it’s going to be hard to justify that $400 price tag.

Guru Inspection
Hardware
Slim and light, but not cheap feeling. Great one handed use and not cumbersome at all.
Cameras
The cameras work well for video calls, but the video and still won't impress anyone.
Software
While Honeycomb has grown up some, it still needs some work and better app support. Samsung's customizations aren't bad but add little to the experience.
Battery and Performance
The Tab was a rocket ship sometimes and Civic others. Even with these top specs, slow down was still present.

Overall
Unless you absolutely need a full tablet OS, at $400 it's hard to justify this when compared to a Kindle Fire at half the cost.

“Samsung pioneered the seven-inch tablet market with the launch of the GALAXY Tab, marking an innovation milestone in the mobile industry. Building on the success of the GALAXY Tab, we’re now delighted to introduce the GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus reloaded with enhanced portability, productivity and a richer multimedia experience” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. He added “GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus is for those who want to stay productive and in touch with work, friends and content anytime, anywhere”

Samsung reloaded more possibilities on the go with GALAXY Tab 7.0 PlusAdvanced 7-inch tablet experience on the go within a premium designSEOUL, Korea – September 30, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leading mobile device provider, today announced the launch of the GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus. Offering a portable, rich multimedia experience on a 7-inch display, the GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus packs power and productivity into a chic lightweight design. The GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus runs Google AndroidTM Honeycomb, enabling an easy and intuitive user experience.

“Samsung pioneered the seven-inch tablet market with the launch of the GALAXY Tab, marking an innovation milestone in the mobile industry. Building on the success of the GALAXY Tab, we’re now delighted to introduce the GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus reloaded with enhanced portability, productivity and a richer multimedia experience” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. He added “GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus is for those who want to stay productive and in touch with work, friends and content anytime, anywhere.”

Enhanced Portability

With 7-inch display, GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus provides enhanced portability, weighing just 345g and measuring at just 9.96mm thin. Enhanced portability ensures that it fits easily into an inside-jacket pocket or a handbag, making it an ideal device for those who need to stay productive and entertained while on-the-move.

Advanced Productivity

GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus delivers a smooth and intuitive user experience with powerful performance powered by 1.2GHz dual core processor. Mini Apps allows seamless multitasking by consolidating 7 applications easily accessed from a bottom-side tray on main screen. Users can launch favorite features such as music player or calendar as pop-ups over full screen applications. Not only that, users can design an individualized up-to-the-minute interface through Live Panel.

Web browsing is also enhanced by Adobe Flash and super-fast HSPA+ connectivity, providing download speeds up to three times faster than a conventional HSPA connection. On top of that Wi-Fi Channel Bonding bonds two channels into one for improved network connection and data transfer at up to twice the speed.

Furthermore, the GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus offers voice and video call support, with no need for a headset.
Users can see friends and family from anywhere in the world in high quality thanks to the device’s larger screen.

Rich Multimedia on-the-move

Full HD videos can be enjoyed on the 7-inch WSVGA PLS display, with DivX & multi codec support ensuring the device is capable of supporting a variety of different formats. An improved virtual clipboard, which stores text and images enabling easy copy and paste, further adds to these capabilities.

Additionally, the GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus features Social Hub, Readers Hub and Music Hub services. Social Hub aggregates the user’s contacts, calendar and email along with instant messaging and social networking connections all within one easy-to-use interface. Readers Hub provides e-reading content such as e-books, newspapers and magazines. Music Hub enables access to over 13 million songs even when out and about.

GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus will be available starting in Indonesia and Austria from end-October and gradually rolled to globally including Southeast and Southwest Asia, US, Europe, CIS, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Japan and China.

For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com/<http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/>.

Note to Editors:

Samsung GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus Product Specifications

Network

HSPA+ (HSDPA 21Mbps /HSUPA 5.76Mbps) 900/1900/2100
EDGE/GPRS   850/900/1800/1900

Processor

1.2GHz Dual Core

Display

7-inch WSVGA(1024 x 600) PLS LCD

OS

Android 3.2(Honeycomb)

Camera

Main(Rear) : 3 MP AF with LED Flash
Sub (Front) : 2 MP
Action Shot, Panorama Shot, Smile Shot

Video

Codec : MPEG4, Divx, Xvid, H.263, H.264, VC-1, WMV7/8, VP8
Format : 3GP, MPEG4, WMV, AVI, MKV
Playback : 1080p Full HD
Recording : 720p HD

Audio

Codec : MP3,WMA, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+, AC-3, Flac
Midi(SMF), WAV, OGG
apt-X Bluetooth Codec
Music Player with SoundAlive

Value-added Features

Samsung Apps

Samsung Kies 2.0
Samsung Kies air (downloadable via Samsung Apps)

Samsung TouchWiz : Live Panel, Mini Apps

Social Hub
- Integrated Messaging(Email, SMS, SNS, MMS), Contacts/ Calendar Sync
- POP3/IMAP Email & Exchange Active Sync

Readers Hub/Music Hub
(will be available for download via Samsung Apps after launch)

GoogleTM Mobile Services
- GmailTM, Google TalkTM, Google SearchTM, YouTubeTM, Android Market TM,
- Google MapsTM

Smart Remote

Enterprise Solutions

Adobe Flash

Document Editor

Connectivity

Bluetooth(r) technology v 3.0
USB 2.0 HS & Host
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 & 5 GHz)
Wi-Fi Channel bonding & Wi-Fi Direct

Sensor

Accelerometer, Gyro, Digital compass, Ambient Light, Proximity

Memory

1GB(RAM) + 16/32GB Internal memory + microSD (up to 64GB)

Size

193.65 x 122.37 x 9.96 mm, 345g

Battery

Li-on 4,000 mAh

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of nine independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com<http://www.samsung.com>.

Android, Google, Android Market, Google Maps, YouTube, Gmail, Google Talk, and Google Search are trademarks of Google Inc.

Few manufacturers are poised to do what Amazon is about to, dominate both the eReader and the tablet markets. Before you go all “iPad this and that” on me, let me say that currently there is a “tablet market” and an “iPad market”. Amazon will rule the tablet market and it might just give the iPad a run for it’s money over time, but I’m not naive and Apple has a huge head start. What I will say is, all other tablet manufacturers are about to have their lunch eaten by Amazon. Fear not tablet makers, you won’t be alone. All those would be eReader guys will be at the same table with you bitching that Amazon got their sandwiches as well. Read on to see why this Guru believes Amazon has it on lock.

Price
Amazon can do what no other tablet manufacturer can do, subsidize the cost of a device and sell the shit out of content. Apple is in similar position as they take 30% off all app sales and subscriptions, not to mention what they make from movies, TV shows, and books. The difference is Amazon is charging $300 less than an iPad for their tablet device. Sure the iPad “does more”, but that argument holds no water for most people. All of these other Android tablets are over $300 and have little more to offer than the Kindle Fire. Look at the HP Touchpad as an example. No one would touch it with a ten foot pole at $399, but at $99 people lost thier minds trying to buy one. It’s not just the Fire that is priced right; the new Kindle starts at only $79. At the price it has entered impulse buy territory.

Content

This is where Amazon will kill all other tablets. With a kindle Fire you have an entire ecosystem built right in. Movies, TV shows, music, apps, games, books, and magazines all from a single source at your finger tips. Other tablets might be able to “do more” but can they provide more? No? Again Apple comes close, but that circles back to my first point. Other manufacturers have the hardware and to some extent software, but no one does content like Amazon. It’s that single ecosystem that is easy for people to get into and difficult for people to leave that makes an experience great. I know few people who actually “like” iTunes, but they use it with a smile because they almost have to. With Amazon there is no bloated software, it’s all in the cloud. Easier, cleaner, and with similar content, Amazon rivals even Apple when it comes to content.

Brand Recognition and Mind Share

What’s the most successful eReader? Hell if I know, but I would say the Amazon Kindle and no one would argue with me. Why? Mind share, brand recognition. The same reason why people think Apple owns way more of the PC market than what they really do. Amazon and kindle have become a household name and people buy what they are familiar with and what they can relate to. “My cousin’s brother’s best friend’s roommate has a Kindle an he likes it”. Remember when every smart phone with a keyboard was a “Blackberry”? Well every eReader, and soon small tablet, will be known as a “Kindle”.

Retail Presence

The Kindle was originally only available directly through Amazon.com for the longest time. It did reasonably well with only one channel of purchase. Today the Kindle is available in just about every big box retailer and reseller. With Amazon’s huge reach, they put the Kindle in front of millions of people everyday. I am sure that strategy will not change as it has done wonders for the current lineup.

Variety

A lot of attention has been put on the Kindle Fire and for good reason, it is new and shiny. However, it is not the bread and butter of the lineup. Amazon has a plan to offer a Kindle for every wallet and preference. Want a traditional E Ink display? Got it. Want new fancy touch controls? Got it. Want a full blown tablet with plenty of media? Got it. From $79-$199, Amazon has every price point and every user preference covered in their lineup. This gives them a huge advantage over other eReader competitors like Barnes & Noble who offer fewer choices in their lineup.

Will Amazon take down the mighty Apple? I honestly don’t think so. I can see people owning both an iPad and a Kindle (variety remember). Will Amazon take down every other tablet out there, yes and easily. Amazon has right price, huge selection of content, plenty of variety, and the damn thing will be in your face in every retail store you go to. In the words of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, “In terms of market share, Amazon is Coke and there isn’t yet a Pepsi”. 

Amazon has built it’s foundation on selling stuff. From books to lawnmowers, they have it all. With the Kindle, Amazon moved into a new territory, digital distribution, selling files. The company now sells more Kindle books than print books, and is poised as the premier digital book distributor.

Amazon hasn’t stopped with books, they sell music, movies, digital magazines and most recently, Android applications. Amazon’s App store gives users another choice when it comes to purchasing and downloading applications; an Alternative to what comes pre-installed on almost every Android device. Why? Why would someone go out of their way to download a separate app market and deal with two different app stores? Is it the free app of the day? No. It’s much bigger than that.

Amazon understands the importance of a complete and total solution. Now when they launch their very own Android device (Kindle), it won’t have a shred of “Google” on it. That means no Android Market. It will run a Kindle OS that will cover Android completely, it will effectively ”fork” Android.

Users won’t have a choice but to use the Amazon app store, and that isn’t a bad thing. Amazon plans to sell this thing for $250, going head to head with the Nook Color on price, but with a stronger brand presence and much more solid ecosystem.

I know developers have had their issues with Amazon’s App store, but now is the time to suck it up and get your app in there! Like iOS developers have done with Apple, bend to Amazon’s will and enjoy the benefits of a closed, tight knit ecosystem with a huge potential audience of users.

If Amazon knows how to do one thing, it’s sell stuff. If you have stuff and want to sell it, I suggest you get on board with Amazon now. This new Kindle will be a big deal.

Key Facts

Customers can purchase HTC Jetstream, AT&T’s* first 4G LTE/HSPA+ tablet, online and in company-owned retail stores starting September 4.
HTC Jetstream is HTC’s first tablet running on the Android™ 3.1 (Honeycomb) operating system which was specifically built for tablets.
Tablet features a 10.1” HD display, Snapdragon 1.5 GHz dual core processor and front and rear facing cameras.
For the first time, AT&T custom

ers can receive discounted tablet pricing after committing to a two-year agreement for a new $35, 3GB monthly data plan.
For a limited time, HTC Scribe ™ – an optional digital pen accessory- will be available at no additional cost.
Customer Benefits

Exclusive to AT&T customers, HTC Jetstream is the company’s first 4G LTE/HSPA+ tablet. It runs the Android™ 3.1 (Honeycomb) operating system and represents the first iteration of the HTC Sense™ user experience on Honeycomb. HTC Jetstream boasts a large 10.1” WXGA high-resolution display for an immersive entertainment experience, third-generation Snapdragon 1.5 GHz dual core processor for fast multi-tasking and instant screen refresh. A rich web browsing experience supports Adobe® Flash® Player and an enhanced HD video experience with1080p playback and capture.

The tablet is also compatible with HTC Scribe™ – an optional digital pen accessory, which is sold separately, – for content creation as well as Evernote integration for storing your documents in the cloud. Additionally, HTC Jetstream is preloaded with services optimized for the tablet such as AT&T Family Map, AT&T Navigator ®, HTC Watch™, HTC Hub, Friendstream™, Android Market, and much more.

Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)

HTC Jetstream is AT&T’s first tablet to showcase the Android™ 3.1 OS. The brand new operating system was designed from the ground up for devices with larger screens. It improves on Android favorites with new interactive and resizeable widgets plus improved multi-tasking, browsing, notifications, and customization. The new version of the platform also features Google Maps 5.0 with 3D-like interaction, access to over three million Google eBooks, incognito mode for browsing internet with no history tracking and Google Talk with video chat over Wi-Fi.

Quotes

“This tablet is a beautiful 10.1-inch, LTE powered masterpiece,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “When you combine powerful options like HTC Jetstream with our upcoming LTE technology and nationwide HSPA+ network, it flies.”

“HTC Jetstream combines the acclaimed HTC Sense experience with Android Honeycomb to provide an innovative and engaging experience on a 10.1 inch tablet,” said Martin Fichter, acting president, HTC Americas Region. “Paired with AT&T’s upcoming 4G LTE speed and mobility, HTC Jetstream delivers connectivity for social and entertainment needs alongside productivity and creativity tools in a portable package.”

Price and Availability

On September 4, the tablet will be available exclusively to AT&T customers online and in company-owned retail stores for $699.99 with a new two-year contract.

AT&T postpaid tablet customers now have a new $35, 3 GB monthly data plan option with a two-year contract. Customers who do not choose a long-term commitment may still select one of two existing monthly billing options:

Postpaid: $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB. Customers on the 2 GB plan who exceed their monthly data allotment will be charged $10 per 1 GB of overage. Charges will appear on customers’ monthly wireless statements.
Prepaid: $14.99 for 250 MB or $25 for 2 GB. Customers on the 2 GB plan who exceed their monthly data allotment may choose to purchase an additional 2 GB for $25. Charges will appear on customers’ credit card statements.
Offering the simplicity of a single bill, the postpaid option will show up on customers’ monthly wireless bill after the data is used. The new postpaid billing option will be available online at www.att.com and across AT&T retail locations.

For more information, please visit www.att.com/jetstream.

HTC Jetstream Specifications

LTE (700/AWS)
HSPA+/HSPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz)
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)
HTC Sense™ UX for tablets
Display: 10.1” WXGA HD screen
Processor: Third-generation Snapdragon 1.5GHz dual-core processor
Camera: Front Facing 1.3 MP, Rear facing 8 MP and Dual LED Flash
Battery: 7,300 mAh
Expandable Memory: MicroSD up to 32 GB
Dimensions: 7” (l) x 9.87” (w) x 51” (d)
Weight: 25 ounces
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ (with enhanced backhaul) or LTE, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

AT&T FamilyMap and AT&T Navigator® require a separate subscription.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Limited-time offer. Specifications subject to change. Device subject to availability. Mobile broadband access requires a DataConnect Plan for Tablets or a Session Based DataConnect Plan. DataConnect Plans are billed monthly and automatically renew every month, unless you cancel service prior to the start of the monthly renewal. No term commitment or termination fees apply (with no service commitment plans). Overage charges apply if the monthly data allowance is exceeded. Offer not available for on-tablet activation. Credit check may be required. Geographic and other restrictions apply. Session Based DataConnect Pass Plans for Tablets: Time begins expiring immediately upon purchase/activation, whether you are using the service or not. Once your time expires or the allotted data is used, whichever comes first, your data access will cease. 30-day domestic plans automatically renew, unless you cancel auto-renewal. Fees are non-refundable. Other restrictions apply. For full terms see DataConnect Pass Wireless Data Services Agreement on att.com/wirelesslegal.

Promotional tablet pricing requires a two-year agreement and a minimum $35 a month 3 GB DataConnect Plan for tablets. Overage is $10 for each GB provided, if the included monthly data allowance is exceeded. Geographic and other restrictions apply. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to 10% restocking fee may apply to returns; thereafter up to $325. Some agents impose additional fees. Equipment fee may apply if service canceled within 30 days of purchase. See att.com/returns for details. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment.

CRU and IRU customers must purchase a qualifying DataConnect Plan for Tablets.

HTC Scribe Pen Offer: Customers must add the HTC Scribe at time of purchase. Offer cannot be combined with any other equipment promotion, discount, or other offer. Subject to availability limitations. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. Customers who purchase HTC Jetstream between September 4 and October 15 and later return the device must also return the HTC Scribe pen. Offer runs until Sunday, October 15, 2011 11:59 p.m. EDT.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

About HTC
HTC Corp. (HTC) is one of the fastest-growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Hardware

The HTC Flyer

The HTC Flyer bucks the trend of 9-10 inch screens and represents it’s self with a seven inch 600 x 1024 capacitive LCD. The brightness is really nice and the overall clarity of the display is top notch. On the face of the Flyer you will find a 1.3 megapixel web cam as well touch sensitive buttons for home, menu, and back. These “buttons” are actually just back lit portions of the bezel that switch positions based on the orientation of the tablet. It is a really nice touch and a preemptive strike when the Flyer gets updated to Honeycomb as that version does away with capacitive buttons all together. The front of the Flyer has slightly curved edges which make it very nice to hold in landscape mode. Since the Flyer is smaller than most tablets, it’s also lighter, making it easier to hold. Typing in portrait mode, two thumb style, is extremely nice. The keyboard is larger than what you’d find on a smart phone, but the tablet is still easy to hold. The same cannot be said about typing in landscape however. Being a smaller tablet makes the keyboard very narrow and short when in landscape, and is awkward to type with. I haven’t found it to be a big problem, as the Flyer is very light and switches orientation super quick.

Aluminum Back Looks and Feels Great

The back is almost entirely aluminum, save for the soft touch plastic covers on the top and bottom. The Flyer feels very solid and the aluminum gives it a nice high quality feel. The back is also home to a 5 megapixel camera and the speakers. Ah the speakers. These guys are so loud and crisp I was pretty surprised the first time I turned the volume all the way up. I have been using the Flyer as my alarm clock and let me tell you, you will not sleep through this bad boy! Music sounds great and watching movies without headphones is very nice as well.

7in Flyer Compared to Kindle

The 7 inch form factor is a debatable choice, but I find myself really liking it. I feel like there is definitely a place in the market for a tablet of this size. It is small enough that it is great as a mobile device, but large enough that web browsing, reading, note taking, movies, etc all benefit form the larger than smartphone screen size. Switching between portrait and landscape is easy and quick and the Flyer seems to work really well in either orientation.

Software

Sense UI but On a Much Larger Scale

The HTC Flyer’s software is a pretty big point of contention. Most modern Android tablets are sporting Honeycomb, which is designed specifically for tablets. The Flyer plays it old school by running Gingerbread, for all intents and purposes, an OS meant for a phone. With that said, HTC has taken Sense and customized it to be more tablet friendly. As opposed to seven, you now get eight home screens, and HTC’s widgets look great and seem more functional on the larger display. The browser has also been updated to use the larger screen, clicking the “windows” button will cause part of the window to drop down revealing all of your open browser windows. This makes switching between open windows very easy and almost has a “tabbed browsing” feel to it. The clock and dock mode both utilize the large screen by showing you your calendar, weather animations, and social updates all on one screen. Although HTC has done some great things with the Sense software, at the end of the day your experience doesn’t differ much from that on a Android phone.

The Browser is Extremely Fast and Stable

HTC Watch

Purchase and Rent Videos with HTC Watch

HTC also has packaged their movie and TV show renting/purchasing service, HTC Watch, along with the Flyer. The selection leaves a little to be desired, especially if you have ever browsed iTunes, but the videos they do have seem like popular choices. Once you have created an HTC Watch account, you can share your videos with up to five other registered devices. HTC thankfully made it very easy to remove registered devices right from the settings.

HTC Scribe

They Call Me Michelangelo

While all other tablet manufactures have moved toward 100% touch input, HTC has built in a stylus based input system using the HTC Scribe pen. The Flyer comes with a custom version of Evernote (it’s called “Notes” on the Flyer) that gives you a notebook style interface for writing notes, drawing, and voice recording. Each page is saved and synced to the cloud just like traditional Evernote notebooks and is readable by any device that uses Evernote. On the bezel of the Flyer there is a pen “button” that only responds when tapping it with the tip of the Scribe pen. This button brings up a menu of options for pen type (marker, ink pen, paint brush etc), color, line density, etc. It’s pretty versitile and has all the options you would expect from this type of input. The pen works really well, the line tracking is spot on and erasing and editing couldn’t be easier. My only issue with the HTC Scribe is that its costs $80 in addition tot he $499 for the Flyer itself. Granted no other tablet offers anything quite like the HTC Scribe, at almost $600, you would have to have a huge need for pen input.

HTC Scribe Pen is an $80 Add-On

Power/Performance

The Flyer is One Really Quick Device

Other than software, the fact HTC put a single core processor in the Flyer was another concern of mine. Every other tablet manufacturer is dropping dual core processors in their tablets, including Apple. You can safely put those concerns to rest. The 1.2ghz processor in the Flyer fires on all cylinders and never slows down. It zips through menus, screen transitions, and the web browser renders ridiculous fast. The battery performance is also pretty impressive. With moderate to heavy use, I could easily go two days without charging the Flyer. It seems while in standby and screen off, the Flyer uses almost zero battery and could easily go 3-4 day with light use.

Wrap Up

With the 7 inch form factor, HTC has taken a different approach and thus delivers a slightly different experience. Most tablets are inherently good at media consumption web browsing, and not so good at information input. With HTC scribe, jotting down notes, thoughts, and quick ideas is great but you still get the benefit of a larger screen for media. Of course this benefit comes at a pretty high price point of $580. The HTC Scribe works really well and if you carry around pen and paper, the benefit may out way the cost. The Flyer also lacks Honeycomb, which in my opinion isn’t a huge deal now, but will be an issue soon. There is not a huge app selection for Honeycomb devices yet, but 6 months from now the market will be quite different. If the Flyer does not get updated, it will quickly fall behind. Sense is an extremely nice substitute for Honeycomb right now, but the feeling of using a big phone will always be present until an update. The Flyer’s smaller design makes it light and easy to carry. Using it as an e-reader for long periods of time is much nicer than larger, heavier tablets. The Flyer easily competes with other Android tablets on the market and even offers a little twist with the Scribe pen input and a smaller lighter form factor.

Guru Inspection

Pros

fast performance
great battery life
light and mobile hardware
HTC Scribe works well
Sense software looks/functions great on the large screen
great speakers

Cons

lacks honeycomb
typing in landscape is awkward
HTC Scribe pen add-on is expensive
no built in video calling software
some apps aren’t compatible (ex HBO GO)

Pros
- I like that the device is not just for the iPad but for any tablet you want.
- the rubberized arms help from the tablet slipping at all and they make it pretty impossible to damage your tablet or scratch it.
- the stand gives you precise viewing angels, so you can customize is because it is so flexible

Cons
- the packaging is kinda hard to slide out without ripping the package.
- sometimes the top and bottom arms are too short for certain ways you want to use it.

Cost: $35

Available at Breffo.com

Guru Inspection: PASSED

PSN outages be damned! Pay attention to this and not the fact you can’t get your PSN on! Sony just announced the S1 and S2 Android tablets for release late 2011. The S1 is you standard tablet slate, while the S2 is a clamshell style with a dual screen. Both are running Honeycomb (Android 3.0) and sport 3G/4G connectivity. The kicker is that both of these tablets will rock the Playstation suite and be able to play PS1 quality games. We have yet to see how these titles will play with out the use of physical controls like on the Xperia Play, but we will reserve judgement until we get our hands on.

via [EGRepublic]

This is not the greatest episode ever, this is just a tribute. We couldn’t record the greatest episode. My computer freaked out at the epic level of performance and came to a stop in the awe that was. This however was bad since that stopped the recording. However we manged to recover just a small portion of the show and bestow it upon thou. You’re welcome.

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Nic:
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Nic@TheGadgetGurus.net

Liz:
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Show Notes After the break…