Recently Sony has launched its first tablet Sony Tablet S. The majority of the Android-based tablets are very similar. All can be accused of copying from Apple, all built on a completely equal Honeycomb. However, Sony succeeded to make a tablet, which is unusual and interesting outwardly.
Design
Tablet S stands out with its unusual design of the back. Sony didn’t try to make its tablet diminutive. As a result, the tablet looks a bit stoutish – 20.6 mm at the thickest part. But it’s impossible to mix it up with other Android-tablet: laterally and from behind it is a bit like a folded magazine. Unless you can not unfold it back. The essence of the decision is that the top of the tablet is thicker than the bottom.
According to the company, this design, which assumes an offset center of gravity, allows the user more convenient to hold the tablet on the palm of one hand at an angle. That is, for example, if you put the tablet in hand, the risk that it will fall less than in the case of the tablets of uniform gauge. It’s really a productive solution. So, thanks to the form, in a horizontal orientation, Sony Tablet S does not slip from the hands, and in the portrait orientation, the tablet excellently fits the hand.
Model of the device is made in black color tone, while the base has a silver tint. In the gadget space of air clearance, located between the glass layer and the display, is reduced. Housing is made of a slightly rough plastic that hides annoying fingerprints well and helps to hold the tablet tight. Hard plastic does not look cheap or fragile, while remaining lightweight. And the lowest part of the rear panel has rubber feet in order to prevent sliding off the smooth surface and protect the body from scratches.
If you place the device on the table and type any text, you will notice that the shape of the tablet provides the best angle when entering characters.
On the right end face of the housing there is the power button with light-emitting diode, which indicates the charge, volume control button, reset hole and reset. On the left end face there is a 3.5mm jack for headphone, a micro-USB port, a full-sized slot for SD memory cards, hidden behind a removable cover.
On the bottom end face there is nothing, but a port for charging and synchronization, to which various accessories can also be connected. A cable for charging the tablet is original. If the cable is lost, it’s necessary to buy it at the service center.
Display
Sony Tablet S has a 9.4 inches screen with a 1280×800 pixels resolution, executed on Sony TruBlack technology, which provides improved color reproduction, a really deep black color. The producers have succeeded in reducing reflection coefficient. So, Tablet S display smoothes glare, increasing the sharpness and contrast. The unusual screen size (diagonal) is one of the main features of Sony Tablet S. The developers tried to find the ideal compromise between compact size and ease of operation. Though, the screen is smaller, than the most of 10 inches tablets have, but this is hardly noticeable when the tablets are put together. Coupled with a powerful processor, which makes all operations quick and smooth, the picture looks perfect.
Hardware
The tablet is based on NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor with two cores and a 1.0 GHz operating frequency. Tablet S has 1 GB RAM. One type of tablet has 16 GB of internal memory; the other operates 32 GB of internal memory. However, HDMI port is not available.
Software
Tablet S operates on Android 3.2, which is running smoothly and steadily. At the top of the main screen there are a few buttons. They are almost of the widgets size, but little less. Additional icons provide quick access to the browser, e-mail, infrared port (for controlling the TV), and E-reader client. Sony also customized the appearance of media players. Clicking on the cover of the album plays the music at once.
A major change occurred in the Favorites interface. Using tray, it’s possible to view all the newly opened applications, games, music, add the bookmarks. Thus, favorite web pages can be gathered in one list.
Camera and battery
Sony Tablet S is equipped with a sufficiently powerful battery and 5000 mAh capacity. It’s enough for 10 hours of continuous operation at a quite high load. The tablet has a 5 megapixel back camera (without flash) and a VGA camera on the front panel, which has become a standard for today’s tablets. The back camera is sufficiently sluggish, while shooting.
Browser
Sony has optimized the web browser to maximize its performance, while browsing web pages. The pages are loading quickly, and their scrolling is smooth, without any delay and jerks. It’s possible to use convenient Google Voice for finding information. Find objects of interest on three-dimensional map browser.
Accessories
Sony has released the tablet with additional accessories for it. This is a Bluetooth keyboard, which, besides Tablet S, can work also with other Android tablets, and has the support of DLNA and infrared controlling various home electronics. In addition, there is the charging dock station, which has an HDMI video output and can be conveniently used as a stand for the tablet, bundled with a keyboard, since it has adjustable tablet’s tilting angle (2 positions). They can be bough separately.
Entertainment
There are preinstalled Entertainment Pack and Crackle applications in Sony Tablet S. Access to video and music resources is free and will be available to you immediately upon request. Millions of magazines, comic books, electronic books can be found through Google Books. For the fans of games there is PlayStation support in Tablet S. Crash Bandicoot game is also preinstalled. Sony Tablet S saves your time, while downloading the applications for rest, receive instructions, and watch useful and interesting TV programs.
Sony’s engineers has thought out design of Tablet S, and balancing very well. Filling the tablet with the valuable resources, the device will be inseparable for its owner.
