Sunday, October 21, 2012

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Review


I like seven-inch tablets very much. They are compact and comfortable devices that can fit into a small bag or even into a jacket pocket. They are also more lightweight and less expensive than ten-inch models. The one we are reviewing here, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, represents a logical sequel and extension of the compact tablet lineup by Samsung.

Design, materials & controls
The right side accommodates the volume rocker and the power button. Their travel is short and soft, so the buttons are comfortable to use.

This one resembles many other Samsung tablets, and not only them actually.

On the left, we get slots for a microSD card and a SIM card (in 3G version). Both slots are covered with protecting caps that are perfectly fastened and don't seem to come loose in the future.

On the bottom, we can see the proprietary charging socket also used to connect the device to a PC. On both sides of it, there are speakers, covered with grids, and a microphone. The sound volume produced by the speakers is moderate, but if you hold the tablet horizontally, you may cover them with your hand.
On the top, we have a 3.5-mm audio jack and another microphone.
The entire front panel is occupied by the screen and a black bezel around it; the front camera eyelet and the voice speaker are above the screen.
The tablet also has a rear side camera. The backside itself is made of grey matt plastic that feels nice to the touch and is quite wear-resistant; no scratches appear on it. So we can be glad Samsung decided not to use their favorite glossy plastic for the backside of this tablet.
By the way, the white version of this model also hit the shelves not so long ago.
There are absolutely no complaints about the build quality, unlike the majority of low-end tablets that normally produce lots of creak and crackle, but we get nothing of the kind here.



First Look. Sony LT30p Mint

Introduction
Sony wants to make a strong effort to return to the market as a player both with strong and numerous solutions. Xperia S created a uniqure situation for the company, with only one new device available for more than a month with the rest of the same line up appearing on most markets roughly four weeks ago. This time around Sony is trying to create as many devices as possible with many or just a few differences betweebn them offered at different prices to offer one device for every consumer.
LT30p belongs to this new crop of models and along with Sony Tipo and a couple of other new handsets, which are also to be presented also tries to differentiate itself from the design philosophy that was used in Xperia S and all its junior sibblings. Lt30p aims at the high end maket to be placed as Sony's flahsgip for the third quarter of the year. While practically replacing Xperia S in that place, it has very few similarities both in terms of design and features.