HTC has recently released its latest Android model, the seven-inch Flyer, which continues HTC’s penchant for making bold, groundbreaking choices.
The Flyer has a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, an aluminum enclosure for the body and a Magic Pen. At first glance, the device is not as pretty as other tablets in the market. Though smaller (at seven inches) than the others, it is a bulkier than its super-slim counterparts. Its color palette looks far from sophisticated and its white plastic parts are just odd.
Having said that, the Flyer’s functionality of form must be commended. The solid aluminum casing provides a layer of extra protection for it—a must in a portable device. And what a portable device it is! Despite making an unwieldy first impression, the Flyer proved to be perfect for bringing around without getting an extra carrying bag for it. Thumb-typing on the seven-inch Flyer is good, allowing for speedy typing matched by device’s responsiveness and the near-perfect algorithm that predicts words before the user is done writing it out.
The Flyer is also compatible with a 3G, which just completely transforms the gadget from simply being a tablet to a smartphone replacement. While it cannot do the functions of a regular mobile phone, except for the text messaging service, the Flyer can already do web services such as Twitter, Google Talk, and email.
Another point in the Flyer’s favor is its above-average discplay. Color fidelity is quite good, bright, vibrant and sharp, even at angles that already distorts display in other tablets. The LCD is not overwhelmed by natural light even when the Flyer is used outside at high noon. The backlighting is consistent, color reproduction is great and the touchscreen’s sensitivity is very satisfying. The Flyer has 1024 x 600 pixels resolution—appropriate for its size.
The Flyer’s status LED, meanwhile, is integrated into the power button. The power button emits flashes of light when the gadget receives new notifications. The Android keys are available in both landscape and portrait mode. They become almost invisible when they are not in use, but they can be easily accessed when the slate is reoriented. There are Home, Menu and Back Keys which can be pressed with the hands. The Flyer also comes with a Magic Pen that can be used to access and manipulate the stylus menu key.
Battery life is long. The Flyer is able to go full-on mode for more than 12 hours straight without recharging, meaning that a user can run its applications and functions all day without having to worry about the gadget’s power running out. With minimal to normal use, a full charge can probably last for two to three days, especially because the Flyer has a great energy saving feature. HTC also included an optional sleep mode which shuts down side programs when the Flyer is locked. This can be set with specific time periods.
On the downside, the Flyer’s stereo speakers do not offer much in quality. They produce a tiny, unsatisfying sound, which is so different from what a user will hear if he/she listens through headphones plugged into the device. The sound quality is made a bit better with the SRS sound enhancement that HTC has thrown. This addition is very welcome, but its benefits—providing a wider sound stage and bringing out more sound detail—are still limited.
The Flyer’s front- and rear-facing cameras both take low-quality photos. The shots taken with rear camera’s five megapixels produces blotch, blurry, poor photos even with near-perfect lighting. It seems that the sensor cannot fill five megapixels. The front camera, with its 1.3-megapixel capacity, are as disappointing as the one on the rear. However, it can produce marginally better photos with good lighting. It is also sufficient for video calls. The camera software is the usual one that HTC installs unto its devices, although it seems that this will not do much good because of the quality of the camera hardware. The good thing with the software, though, is that it included filters and effects which can somehow improve the photos.
Because the video are taken uses the same hardware as that of the camera, their quality is also compromised. There is a softness in the recordings, and the 720p video feature that HTC advertises is not apparent. Sound quality is also bad, producing tiny sounds that cannot convey any atmosphere with the upside being that it also does not pick up wind. Having said that, the camcorder keeps up with motion quite well.
Looking at Amazon.com – some sellers are selling this tablet for $869.99 without a data plan.. but we would suggest waiting till the price drops.
Bestbuy.com looks to be the cheapest.. at $499.99 but is only available in the USA.
May 25, 2011
Android Tablet Reviews