Motorola Xoom Tablet Review - Android 3.0 Arrives


Introduction and Specifications

The Motorola Xoom tablet has been met with plenty of hype, and perhaps rightfully so since it is the first tablet to ship with Android 3.0 (aka Honeycomb), the first version of Android designed specifically for tablets. Although there are a number of tablets slated to hit the market this year, Motorola has the benefit of being the first company to actually ship a tablet running on Honeycomb. The Xoom also has some powerful specs that are sure to attract attention, including a dual-core processor, a 10.1-inch widescreen display, 32GB of onboard storage, and front- and rear-facing cameras.

Honeycomb was designed for devices with larger screen sizes, especially tablets. With Honeycomb, you'll get a new multi-touch holographic user interface as well as a 3D experience. You'll also get an updated set of standard applications including a browser with multiple tabs, a Contacts app that uses a two-pane UI and Fast Scroll, and a new two-pane UI in the Email application.

The Motorola Xoom is powered by a dual-core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. It comes with 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The Xoom also has a microSD card slot, though it is not enabled out of the box. Motorola has confirmed an update is in the works that will enable the microSD card slot. If you're too anxious to wait, there is an unofficial kernel available on xda-developers.

Although the Xoom won't be the only tablet making headlines this year, it is the first to ship with Android 3.0. It will also directly compete with the ever-popular iPad. So how does the Xoom stack up? Read on as we take a hands-on look at the Motorola Xoom for Verizon Wireless...


Motorola Xoom
Specifications & Features

  • Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) OS
  • 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core
  • 32GB Internal Memory
  • 1GB LP DDR2 RAM
  • CDMA 800/1900 (CDMA EV-DO Rev A)
  • LTE 700 (after upgrade)
  • Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz & 5GHz 802.11 b/g/n
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR + HID
  • eCompass, aGPS
  • 1 USB port  
  • 1 HDMI input
  • 3.5mm headset
  • Proximity, ambient light, barometer, gyroscope sensors
  • 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 Light Responsive Display
  • approximately 9.81 x 6.61 x 0.51 inches
  • 1.61 pounds
  • Front-facing 2.0 megapixel webcam
  • Rear 5.0 megapixel camera with flash
Battery Life:
  • Charge Time - Up to approx. 3.5 hours
  • Video Playback Time - Up to approx. 10 hours
  • Browsing over Wi-Fi - Up to approx. 10 hours
  • Browsing over 3G - Up to approx. 9 hours
  • MP3 playback - Up to approx. 3.3 days
  • Standby - Up to approx. 14 days
Box Contents:
  • Motorola Xoom Tablet
  • Charger
  • Data Cable
  • Product Safety & Warranty Brochure
  • Quick Reference Guide
Price:
  • Motorola Xoom for Verizon Wireless
    • Full Retail Price: $799.99
    • PRICE with 2-Year contract: $599.99
  • Motorola Xoom with Wi-Fi: $599.00


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