Motorola Xoom 2 (3G) - A Successor That's Too Late
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Design and Features
A Peculiar Offering
A year ago, Motorola took the tablet world by storm with the first Android Honeycomb device, the Xoom. Back then, the Motorola Xoom impressed us with its smooth user experience and solid build quality. Its only drawback then was the somewhat bulky form factor, which became increasingly apparent when ultra slim tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 emerged.
Fast forward to present day, the tablet scene is getting more competitive. ASUS slipped past other manufacturers to introduce the first Android 4.0 and quad-core tablet, the Eee Pad Transformer Prime. With Acer, Lenovo and Intel expected to launch quad-core tablets in the first half of this year, Motorola has to show that it has what it takes to be back in the game. Will its latest tablet, the Motorola Xoom 2 (3G) be eclipsed by the competition? Let's find out.
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Dieting Pays Off
The first Motorola Xoom was criticized for being a little too thick and heavy for a tablet of its class, even though it was one of the pioneering Honeycomb OS based models. Motorola acknowledged the feedback, put its successor on a strict dieting programme and streamlined the Xoom 2 into a lean fighting slate. On top of its new looks, the Motorola Xoom 2 has a splash-guard coating on the outside and internals to provide some protection against accidental water spills. The 10.1-inch display is also reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass, making it less susceptible to scratches.
OS and Software Features
Android 3.2 Honeycomb is nothing new to consumers today. In fact, it is superseded by the latest Android 4.0 platform which is the unifying operating system for both smartphones and tablets. A Motorola spokesperson stated that the Motorola Xoom 2 and Xoom will receive the Android 4.0 update but was unable to provide more specific details on when the update will arrive.
With the tablet market getting more crowded, it is imperative for brands to differentiate their offerings from the rest. While HTC and Samsung invested heavily in developing their own customized user interfaces (UI), Motorola takes the opposite approach by making minor tweaks to the stock Android UI.
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